“The world thinks rather differently of me,” replied Burdock: “my feelings, I know by experience, will bear as much as most men's. Business, madam,--business has hardened them:--but, allow me to ask, what has occurred? You seem to have been ruffled.” “Do I?” said Mrs. Blennerhagen, turning to a looking-glass which stood on the table by her side, and glancing at the reflection of her still lovely face, with a look of anxiety. “Well, now I see myself, I declare I'm quite frightened. I positively look like a hag! don't I?--I ought not to suffer such trifles to affect me so severely.” “Trifles, my dear madam!” emphatically exclaimed the attorney: “I beg your pardon; but I was led to understand, from the tenor of your language--” “Attribute it to the excess of my womanly fears,--increased, perhaps, by indisposition,--and excuse me. We are weak creatures, as you must know; even the very best of us are agitated into agony, by phantoms of our own creation. My suspicions--” “Am I summoned to advise you on suspicion, then?” “Nothing more, I assure you: and, really, I ought to be ashamed to entertain, for one instant, so poor an opinion of Mr. B.'s taste; and, permit me to say it, of my own person. Now I reflect, it was exceedingly wrong of me, perhaps, to be jealous of the woman.” “I wish, with all my heart, madam, you had reflected an hour ago.” “Would that I had! I should have been saved much--much uneasiness:--but I now laugh at my fears,” said the lady, affecting to titter. “I am sorry I cannot join you, madam.” “Ah, Mr. Burdock! I know the interest you take in my happiness; and, therefore, I sent for you to advise,--to comfort me. I look up to you as to my father.” “You do me an honour, Mrs. Blennerhagen, to which I never had an idea of aspiring.” “The honour is entirely on my side, Mr. Burdock,” replied the lady, taking one of Burdock's hands in both her own; “I feel proud to be permitted to make free with so worthy and respectable a character. My confidence in you is unbounded, Mr. Burdock: you see, I receive you in my dressing-room--” “For mine own part,” interrupted the attorney, “I should have preferred the parlour; and so, most probably, would Mr. Blennerhagen.” “Don't talk so foolishly, Mr. Burdock:--attorneys, like physicians, are privileged persons, you know.” “True, true, madam,” said Burdock, rather hastily quitting his seat; “and now, as the cause of our conference is at an end, I will take my leave.” “My dear sir, you surely are not going to quit me in this state:--you have not heard my complaint.” “I thought your mind was easy on the subject.” “Oh! by no means! I am far from soothed,--far from tranquillized: your discrimination may shed a new light upon my mind. I must insist on throwing myself upon your consideration.” “For consistency's sake, don't blow hot and cold in the same moment, Mrs. Blennerhagen. Be in a rage, or be pacified: and if I must hear your tale of woe, the sooner you tell it the better.”