"Mother, John has spoken—"

"Daughter, father will not approve—"

"Of John's having remarked it is a pleasant day?"

"I supposed that thee meant that he had—"

"Suggested so serious a matter as my taking up—"

"Daughter, thee is strangely giddy—"

"Mother, is thee not strangely hasty to suppose—"

"Ruth, dear, let me—"

"Yes, mother; but first let me—"

Both talked so nearly at once that it might be said that neither listened, and now a word