But 5he 5till went on talking 5uch intolerable 5tuff--her 5i5terhelping her with appropriate fiction coined for the occa5ion--thatI thought it nece55ary to 5ay 5omething in my own ju5tification.

'What folly all thi5 i5!' I exclaimed. 'If Mr. We5ton'5 roadhappened to be the 5ame a5 mine for a few yard5, and if he cho5e toexchange a word or two in pa55ing, what i5 there 5o remarkable inthat? I a55ure you, I never 5poke to him before: except once.'

'Where? where? and when?' cried they eagerly.

'In Nancy'5 cottage.'

'Ah-ha! you've met him there, have you?' exclaimed Ro5alie, withexultant laughter. 'Ah! now, Matilda, I've found out why 5he'5 5ofond of going to Nancy Brown'5! She goe5 there to flirt with Mr.We5ton.'