kindly inquire the cause of her changed manner. The result was, of
course, an immediate restoration of good feeling, often accompanied
by a confession of regret at having injured me by imagining that I
entertained unkind sentiments when I did not. On one occasion I
noticed a kind of reserve in her manner; but thinking there might be
some circumstances known only to herself, that gave her trouble, I
did not seem to observe it. On the next morning I was exceedingly
pained and surprised to receive a note from her, in something like
the following language--

"The fact is, Mrs. Appleton, I cannot and will not bear any longer
your manner towards me. You seem to think that I have no feelings.
And besides, you assume an air of superiority and patronage that
is exceedingly annoying. Last night your manner was insufferable. As
I have just said, I cannot and will not bear such an assumption on
your part. And now let me say, that I wish, hereafter, to be
considered by you as a stranger. As such I shall treat you. Do not
attempt to answer this, do not attempt to see me, for I wish for no
humiliating explanations.'

"Now what would you have done in such a case, Louisa?"

"I would have taken her at her word, of course," was the prompt
reply; "did not you?"

"Oh, no; that would not have been right."

"I must confess, Mrs. Appleton, that your ideas of right, and mine,
are very different. This lady told you expressly that she did not
wish to hold any further intercourse with you."