ThissortofthingwasbalmtotheSperanzaspirit。Albert’stemperamentalegoexpandedunderitlikearosebudunderasummersun。Yettherewasafaintshadowofdoubt——shemightbemakingfunofhim。Helookedatherintentlyandsheseemedtoreadhisthoughts，forshesaid：
Oh，Imeanit！PleasebelieveIdo。Ihaven’tspokenthatwaywhenJanewaswithme，forshewouldn’tunderstandandwouldlaugh，butImeanit，Mr。Speranza。Itwouldbeanhonor——agreathonor。
SothestillprotestingandrebelliousGoogoowascompelledtogoafewfeetawayandliedown，whilehismistressandtheyoungmanwhomhehadattemptedtodevourbenttheirheadstogetheroverascribbling-padandtalkedandexclaimedduringthewholeofthathourandafullthree-quartersofthenext。ThenthedistanttownclockinthesteepleoftheCongregationalchurchboomedfivetimesandMissFosdickrosetoherfeet。
Oh，shesaid，itcan’treallybefiveo’clock，canit？Butitis！WhatWILLmotherfancyhasbecomeofme？Imustgothisminute。Thankyou，Mr。Speranza。Ihaveenjoyedthissomuch。
Ithasbeenawonderfulexperience。