did not know who 
you were till you turned. I could not account for your 
 and  to this wordnetanger, which to me is so 
novel and exciting, and which seems to find every one 
interested save yourself. I should hardly have thought you 
alive if you had not been smoking." 

"Well," he said, "I have been abroad so often that it 
has become like crossing the ferry, and I was expecting no 
one down to see me off. But you do not look well;" and 
both she and Miss Eulie noticed that he glanced uneasily 
from her to Hunting, and did not seem sure how he should 
address her. 



878 OPENING A CHESTNUT BURR 

"Miss Walton has just recovered from a long illness," 
said Miss Eulie, quietly. 

His face instantly brightened, and as quickly changed to 
an expression of sincerest . 

"Not seriously ill, I ," he said, earnestly. 

"I'm afraid I was," replied Annie, adding, cheerfully, 
"I am quite well now, though." 

His face became as pale as it had been flushed a moment 
before, and he said, in a low tone, "I did not know it." 

His manner touched her, and proved that there was no 
 on his part toward her