"Yes; there has been something. That is, nothing of my doing,--nothing on earth. Miss Mackenzie, I am as innocent as the babe unborn." As he said this she could not help looking into the horrors of his eyes, and thinking that innocent was not the word for him. "I'm as innocent as the babe unborn. Why should I be expected to marry a lady merely because Mrs Stumfold tells me that there she is? And it's my belief that old Peters has got their money somewhere, and won't give it up, and that that's the reason of it." "But did you ever say you would marry her?" "What! Miss Floss, never! I'll tell you the whole story, Miss Mackenzie; and if you want to ask any one else, you can ask Mrs Perch." Mrs Perch was the coachbuilder's wife. "You've seen Miss Floss at Mrs Stumfold's, and must know yourself whether I ever noticed her any more than to be decently civil." "Is she the lady that's so thin and tall?" "Yes." "With the red hair?" "Well, it's sandy, certainly. I shouldn't call it just red myself." "Some people like red hair, you know," said Miss Mackenzie, thinking of the suitable lady. Miss Mackenzie was willing at that moment to forfeit all her fortune if Miss Floss was not older than she was! "And that is Miss Floss, is it?" "Yes, and I don't blame Mrs Stumfold for wishing to get a husband for her friend, but it is hard upon me." "Really, Mr Maguire, I think that perhaps you couldn't do better." "Better than what?" "Better than take Miss Floss. As you say, some people like red hair. And she is very suitable, certainly. And, Mr Maguire, I really shouldn't like to interfere;--I shouldn't indeed." "Miss Mackenzie, you're joking, I know." "Not in the least, Mr Maguire. You see there has been something about it." "There has been nothing." "There's never smoke without fire; and I don't think a lady like Mrs Stumfold would come here and tell me all that she did, if it hadn't gone some way. And you owned just now that you admired her." "I never owned anything of the kind. I don't admire her a bit. Admire her! Oh, Miss Mackenzie, what do you think of me?" Miss Mackenzie said that she really didn't know what to think.