"Dat's my name, fast 'nuff; yer needn't go shouting it out dat ways."
"When I'se seed wid my own eyes," said Dolf.
"What has yer seen? Jis' 'ticlarise--I hate beatin' round de bush."
Clo really believed that Dolf was getting jealous; the bare idea filled her with a delicious thrill--triumphs of that sort were sufficiently rare in her experience to be exceedingly precious.
"But I don't know what yer mean," she went on, "no more'n de man in de moon."
"Dar it is!" said Dolf. "Why, I b'lieves dat ar's de only reason de sect looks at de moon, cause dar's a man in it."
"Oh, he's too far off," returned Clo, with a prolonged chuckle at her own wit; "too high up for much use."
"Bery good," said Dolf, "bery good indeed! Yer's in fine spirits to-day, Miss Clorindy."
He certainly was in earnest this time--Clo felt assured of that. She forgot the half-washed vegetables, the unseasoned soup, and tried to pose herself with becoming dignity.
"I don't see why," she said, in sweet confusion. "But any how yer didn't prove nothin' 'bout my bein' coquettious."
"Dar it is!" cried Dolf. "It all goes togeder."
"Oh, laws," cried Clo, "as ef dat ar would set you a sighin'; I knows a heap better'n dat, Mister Dolf."
"Yer don't do me justice, Clorindy," said Dolf, seriously, putting on an injured look; "yer neber has done me justice."
"Why, what have I done now?" demanded Clo, beginning to play with her apron string.
Victoria, who was getting impatient with her confined position behind the laundry door, where she had done jealous duty as a listener, now dashed in upon the lovers, and broke up the conversation just as it reached a most interesting point.
"I say, ole Clo, them perserves are a bilen over; you can smell 'em here."
The day was wearing slowly on; a day more terrible in its moral darkness and suspense than perhaps had ever before descended upon that old house.
Mr. Mellen was engaged with a succession of visitors on business, with whom he remained shut up in the library; Elsie took refuge at first in her own chamber, but either nervousness or a desire to talk drove her again to Elizabeth's room. Their dressing-rooms were separated by Elizabeth's chamber, so Elsie flung the door open and ran into her sister's room, exclaiming: