She put it behind her. "Professor Elmore," she said, "I am not going to have you think that he ever behaved in the least presumingly. And whatever you think of me, I must tell you that I suppose I talked very freely with him,--just as freely, as I should with an American. I didn't know any better. He was very interesting, and I was homesick, and so glad to see any one who could speak English. I suppose I was a goose; but I felt very far away from all my friends, and I was grateful for his kindness. Even if he had never written this last letter, I should always have said that he was a true gentleman." "Well?" "That is all. I can't have him treated as if he were an adventurer." "You want him dismissed?" "Yes." "A man can't distinguish as to the terms of a dismissal. They're always insolent,--more insolent than ever if you try to make them kindly. I should merely make this as short and sharp as possible." "Yes," she said breathlessly, as if the idea affected her respiration. "But I will show it to you, and I won't send it without your approval." "Thank you. But I shall not want to see it. I'd rather not." She was going out of the room. "Will you leave me his letter? You can have it again." She turned red in giving it him. "I forgot. Why, it's written to you, anyway!" she cried, with a laugh, and put the letter on the table. The two doors opened and closed: one excluded Lily, and the other admitted Mrs. Elmore. "Owen, I approve of all you said, except that about the form of the refusal. I will read what you say. I intend that it _shall_ be made kindly." "Very well. I'll copy a letter of yours, or write from your dictation." "No; you write it, and I'll criticise it." "Oh, you talk as if I were eager to write the letter! Can't you imagine it's being a very painful thing to me?" he demanded. "It didn't seem to be so before." "Why, the situation wasn't the same before he wrote this letter!" "I don't see how. He was as much in earnest then as he is now, and you had no pity for him." "Oh, my goodness!" cried Elmore desperately. "Don't you see the difference? He hadn't given any proof before"-- "Oh, proof, proof! You men are always wanting proof! What better proof could he have given than the way he followed her about? Proof, indeed! I suppose you'd like to have Lily prove that she doesn't care for him!" "Yes," said Elmore sadly, "I should like very much to have her prove it." "Well, you won't get her to. What makes you think she does?" "I don't. Do you?" "N-o," answered Mrs. Elmore reluctantly. "Celia, Celia, you will drive me mad if you go on in this way! The girl has told me, over and over, that she wishes him dismissed. Why do you think she doesn't?" "I don't. Who hinted such a thing? But I don't want you to _enjoy_ doing it."