“A broad assertion like that you have just made needs proof, Louisa.  I, for one, do not believe that it is true.  If an individual, under a false impression, be let alone to ‘pout it out,’ the mere pouting, as you call it, does not bring a conviction that the cause of unpleasant feeling is altogether imaginary.  The ebullition will subside in time, and the subject of it may seem to forget the cause; but to do so, is next to impossible where the false impression is not removed.  Now let me tell you how I did in reference to the friend I have just mentioned.”

“Well.  How did you do?”

“After the acute pain of mind which was caused by her note had subsided, I began to examine, as far as I could recollect them, all my words and actions towards her on the previous evening.  In one or two things, I thought I could perceive that which to one of her sensitive disposition might appear in a wrong light.  I remembered, too, that in her domestic relations there were some circumstances of a painful character, and I knew that these weighed heavily upon her mind, often depressing her spirits very much.  One of these circumstances, though perfectly beyond her control, was extremely humiliating to a high-minded and somewhat proud-spirited woman.  All these things I turned over in my mind, and instead of suffering myself to feel incensed against her for the unkind note she had written to me, I endeavoured to find excuses for her, and to palliate her fault all that I could.  What troubled me most, was the almost insurmountable barrier that she had thrown between us.  ’Do not attempt to answer this; do not attempt to see me;’ were strong positions; and my pride rose up, and forbade me to break through them.  But pride could not stand before the awakening of better feelings.  ‘I must see her.  I will see her!’ I said.

“This resolution taken, I determined that I would not call upon her until towards evening, thus giving her time for reflection.  The hour at length came in which I had made up my mind to perform a most painful duty, and I dressed myself for the trying visit.  When I pulled the bell, on pausing at her door, I was externally calm, but internally agitated.

“‘Tell Mrs.——­that a friend wishes to speak to her,’ said I to the servant who showed me into the parlour.  I did not feel at liberty to ask her not to mention my name; but I emphasized the word ‘friend,’ in hopes that she would understand my meaning.  But she either did not or would not, for in a few minutes she returned and said, in a confused and hesitating voice,

“‘Mrs.—­says that she does not wish to see you.’”

“And you left the house on the instant?” Louisa said, in an indignant tone.

“No, I did not,” was Mrs. Appleton’s calm reply.

“Not after such an insult!  Pardon me—­but I should call it a breach of politeness for any one to remain in the house of another under such circumstances.”