? ? ? ? I had not been walking long, when I turned a corner, and met her. I tingle again from head to foot as my recollection turns that corner, and my pen shakes in my hand.
? ? ? ? 'You - are - out early, Miss Spenlow,' said I.
? ? ? ? 'It's so stupid at home,' she replied, 'and Miss Murdstone is so absurd! She talks such nonsense about its being necessary for the day to be aired, before I come out. Aired!' (She laughed, here, in the most melodious manner.) 'On a Sunday morning, when I don't practise, I must do something. So I told papa last night I must come out. Besides, it's the brightest time of the whole day. Don't you think so?'
? ? ? ? I hazarded a bold flight, and said (not without stammering) that it was very bright to me then, though it had been very dark to me a minute before.
? ? ? ? 'Do you mean a compliment?' said Dora, 'or that the weather has really changed?'
? ? ? ? I stammered worse than before, in replying that I meant no compliment, but the plain truth; though I was not aware of any change having taken place in the weather. It was in the state of my own feelings, I added bashfully: to clench the explanation.
? ? ? ? I never saw such curls - how could I, for there never were such curls! - as those she shook out to hide her blushes.
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