84
THE O'RUDDY
highly honoured by an indifferent consideration born of a wish to be polite to a man who had eased the mind of her father. No; I would not deceive myself.
But her tears! Were they marking indifferent consideration? For a second I lost myself in a roseate impossible dream. I dreamed that she had spoken to me because she
Oh, what folly! Even as I dreamed, she turned to me with splendid carriage, and remarked coldly:
"I did not wish you to suppose that I ever failed to pay a debt. I have paid this one. Proceed now, sir, in your glowing stupidity. I have done."
When I recovered myself she was placidly moving away from me toward the door of the inn.
