Dolly became immensely grave.
'I thought,' said she, 'that we never mentioned them now, Mr. Carter.'
'Did we ever?' I asked innocently.
'I seemed to remember once: do you recollect being in very low spirits one evening at Monte?'
'I remember being in very low water more than one evening there.'
'Yes: you told me you were terribly hard up.
'There was an election in our division that year,' I remarked, 'and I remitted 30 per cent. of my rents.'
'You did—to M. Blanc,' said Dolly. 'Oh, and you were very dreary! You said you'd wasted your life and your time and your opportunities.'
'Oh, you mustn't suppose I never have any proper feelings,' said I complacently.
'I think you were hardly yourself.'
'Do be more charitable.'
'And you said that your only chance was in gaining the affection of'
'Surely I was not such an—so foolish?' I implored.
'Yes, you were. You were sitting close by me'
'Oh, then, it doesn't count,' said I, rallying a little.
'On a bench. You remember the bench?'
'No, I don't,' said I, with a kind but firm smile.
'Not the bench?'
