Morris flushed, as any young man of spirit might have flushed at an imputation of baseness.
"What did he seem to think?"
"That it would make a difference."
"It will make a difference—in many things. We shall be by many thousands of dollars the poorer; and that is a great difference. But it will make none in my affection."
"We shall not want the money," said Catherine; "for you know I have a good deal myself."
"Yes, my dear girl, I know you have something. And he can't touch that!"
"He would never," said Catherine. "My mother left it to me."
Morris was silent awhile. "He was very positive about this, was he?" he asked at last. "He thought such a message would annoy me terribly, and make me throw off the mask, eh?"
"I don't know what he thought," said Catherine, wearily.
"Please tell him that I care for his message as much as for that!" And Morris snapped his fingers sonorously.
"I don't think I could tell him that."
