'How is it that he speaks Italian?' asked Phillis.

'He had to make a railway through Piedmont, which is in Italy, I
believe; and he had to talk to all the workmen in Italian; and I
have heard him say that for nearly two years he had only Italian
books to read in the queer outlandish places he was in.'

'Oh, dear!' said Phillis; 'I wish--' and then she stopped. I was
not quite sure whether to say the next thing that came into my
mind; but I said it.

'Could I ask him anything about your book, or your difficulties?'

She was silent for a minute or so, and then she made reply,--

'No! I think not. Thank you very much, though. I can generally
puzzle a thing out in time. And then, perhaps, I remember it
better than if some one had helped me. I'll put it away now, and
you must move off, for I've got to make the paste for the pies;
we always have a cold dinner on Sabbaths.'

'But I may stay and help you, mayn't I?'

'Oh, yes; not that you can help at all, but I like to have you
with me.' I was both flattered and annoyed at this
straightforward avowal. I was pleased that she liked me; but I
was young coxcomb enough to have wished to play the lover, and I
was quite wise enough to perceive that if she had any idea of the
kind in her head she would never have spoken out so frankly. I