that!"

She was listening with an expression of pain, and with both her hands
lifted to her head. There was something so wonderful in the idea which
he had suggested to her, that her mind was not able to take it all in
at once. "You make my head giddy," she said. "I'm such a poor stupid
girl--I feel out of myself, like, when a gentleman like you sets me
thinking of new things. Would you mind saying it again, sir?"

"I'll say it to-morrow morning," Amelius rejoined kindly. "You are
tired, Sally--go to rest."

She roused herself, and looked at the bed. "Is that your bed, sir?"

"It's your bed to-night," said Amelius. "I shall sleep on the sofa, in
the next room."

Her eyes rested on him, for a moment, in speechless surprise; she looked
back again at the bed. "Are you going to leave me by myself?" she asked
wonderingly. Not the faintest suggestion of immodesty--nothing that
the most profligate man living could have interpreted impurely--showed
itself in her look or manner, as she said those words.

Amelius thought of what one of her women-friends had told him. "She
hasn't grown up, you know, in her mind, since she was a child." There
were other senses in the poor victim that were still undeveloped,
besides the mental sense. He was at a loss how to answer her, with the
respect which was due to that all-atoning ignorance. His silence amazed
and frightened her.

"Have I said anything to make you angry with me?" she asked.

Amelius hesitated no longer. "My poor girl," he said, "I pity you from
the bottom of my heart! Sleep well, Simple Sally--sleep well." He left
her hurriedly, and shut the door between them.

She followed him as far as the closed door; and stood there alone,
trying to understand him, and trying all in vain! After a while, she
found courage enough to whisper through the door. "If you please, sir--"
She stopped, startled by her own boldness. He never heard her; he was
standing at the window, looking out thoughtfully at the night; feeling
less confident of the future already. She still stood at the door,
wretched in the firm persuasion that she had offended him. Once she
lifted her hand to knock at the door, and let it drop again at her
side. A second time she made the effort, and desperately summoned the
resolution to knock. He opened the door directly.

"I'm very sorry if I said anything wrong," she began faintly, her breath
coming and going in quick hysteric gasps. "Please forgive me, and wish
me