There was an expression on her face, as she listened to me, which suggested that every moment she was about to burst into a fit of laughter. She heard me to the end, and then said, “Have you made up your mind to go to-day?” “Yes,” I cried, indignantly. “I shall only wait to see my uncle.” “Then,” said she, coolly, “I will spare your nerves the anguish of a meeting.” “A what?” I exclaimed. “Since you have been in this house,” she replied, “your behaviour to me has been _most_ insulting. You have pretended to be deaf when I spoke to you. You have ridiculed my book-learning. You have, I am sure, made the most odious comparisons between me and my cousin Constance; and lastly, you took the unwarrantable liberty of telling my father of my reception of you in the avenue yesterday, and earning me a reprimand. I had resolved that nothing less than a duel could wipe away the disgrace you have sought to cast upon me; but since you are leaving us, I need not exact this proof of a courage you _boast_ of, but which I thoroughly question!” “Are you mad?” I burst out. “But you are. O’Twist is mad! you are all mad! And if I were to stay here another day, I should go mad too! A duel--with a _woman_!” “Pray,” said she, scornfully, “don’t try to make my sex a defence for your fears. If you have a mind to prove your courage, there are two pistols upstairs, and I shall be happy to accompany you to the back of the avenue at once. My father will not be down for another hour, so we need fear no interruption.” “God help you!” said I. And I added, “What a fool I was to leave Grove End! There, at least, they know how to treat a gentleman.” “A gentleman!” she exclaimed. “I am very sure that were you to behave to Conny as you have behaved to me----” “Are you aware,” I interrupted her, “that in mentioning the name of Conny, you are speaking of the sweetest and most womanly of girls? who would no more insult me as you do, than I would knowingly insult you?” “Do you like her?” “Like her? I love her!” I exclaimed. “Are you in earnest?” she asked. “Of course I am. I loved her from the moment I set eyes on her. I would marry her to-morrow. I am only waiting until I have taught her to love me, to marry her.” She stared for a moment or two with an expression of profound incredulity in her eyes; and almost immediately a deep and burning blush overspread her cheeks. I seemed to witness a change come over her as astounding as any that was ever wrought by Harlequin’s wand. “If I had _only_ known!” she exclaimed, and hurried out of the room. I stamped my foot with impatience. “What _is_ the meaning of all this?” I cried. “What earthly motive can these relations have for surrounding, and bewildering, and insulting me with their confounded conundrums?”