quickly.

"Nothing more than he said in your presence. Why, was there anything
more to tell?"

"Certainly not, but he made ill-natured remarks about me once--that
is, you said he did--and why should he not again?"

"Well, he has not. I think he spoke very handsomely of you this
morning. I hope he didn't exaggerate your good behavior."

"If you prefer to believe ill of me you are welcome to do so. For
my part, I believe you exaggerate what Mr. Van Berg said at the
concert, and that he never meant to be so rude. As far as I can
judge, he has shown no such unmannerly disposition since coming
here."

"Indeed, you are right. I think his disposition has compared
favorably with your own."

"Well," she replied, with a peculiar smile, "we are on speaking
terms for the present."

"That smile bodes no good-will towards my friend, but for once you
will find a man who will not fall helplessly in love with your mere
beauty."

"If you will glance at yonder table you can see that Miss Burton
has already so absorbed him that he has eyes for no one else."