Of course, as you are here I could not refuse to come out with
you. To make a fuss about it would be the worst of all. But you
should not have come.'
'Why not? Whom does it hurt? It is a pleasure to me. If it be the
reverse to you, I will go.'
'Men are so unmanly. They take such mean advantages. You know it
is a pleasure to me to see you.'
'I had hoped so.'
'But it is a pleasure I ought not to have,--at least not here.'
'That is what I do not understand,' said he. 'In London, where the
Earl could bark at me if he happened to find me, I could see the
inconvenience of it. But here, where there is nobody but Miss
Cass--'
'There are a great many others. There are the rooks and stones and
old women;---all of which have ears.'
'But of what is there to be ashamed? There is nothing in the world
to me so pleasant as the companionship of old friends.'
'Then go after Silverbridge.'
'I mean to do so;--but I am taking you by the way.'
'It is all unmanly,' she said, rising from her stone; 'you know
that it is so. Friends! Do you mean to say that it would make no
difference whether you were here with me or Miss Cass?'
'The greatest difference in the world.
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