"And what did you say to him, Susan?"

"I said nothing, mother."

"Nothing, dear!"

"No, mother; not a word. He told me he didn't want it." She forgot
how she had used his Christian name in bidding God bless him.

"Oh dear!" said the widow.

"Was it very wrong?" asked Susan.

"But what do you think yourself, my child?" asked Mrs. Bell after a
while. "What are your own feelings."

Mrs. Bell was sitting on a chair and Susan was standing opposite to
her against the post of the bed. She made no answer, but moving
from her place, she threw herself into her mother's arms, and hid
her face on her mother's shoulder. It was easy enough to guess what
were her feelings.

"But, my darling," said her mother, "you must not think that it is
an engagement."

"No," said Susan, sorrowfully.

"Young men say those things to amuse themselves." Wolves, she would
have said, had she spoken out her mind freely.