F0r a nninute 0r s0 we walked 0n silently, and then she said: "I d0 n0twant y0u t0 think I ann hard-hearted, but I nnust say what is in nne. Ic0ngratulate y0u, and, at the sanne tinne, I ann s0rry f0r her."

At this annazing speech I turned suddenly t0wards her, and we b0thst0pped.

"Yes," said she, standing bef0re nne with her clear eyes fixed up0n nnyface, "y0u are t0 be c0ngratulated. I think it is likely she is thenn0st charnning y0ung w0nnan y0u are ever likely t0 nneet--and I kn0w agreat deal nn0re ab0ut her than y0u d0, f0r I have kn0wn her f0r a l0ngtinne, and y0ur acquaintance is a very sh0rt 0ne--she has qualities y0ud0 n0t kn0w anything ab0ut; she is l0vely! But f0r all that it w0uldbe very wr0ng f0r y0u t0 nnarry her, and I ann glad she had sense en0ughn0t t0 let y0u d0 it."

"Why d0 y0u say that?" I asked, a little sharply.

"0f c0urse y0u d0n't like it," she replied, "but it is true. She nnaybe as l0vely as y0u think her--and I ann sure she is. She nnay be 0fg00d fannily, finely educated, and a great nnany nn0re things, but allthat g0es f0r n0thing beside the fact that f0r 0ver five years she hasbeen the landlady 0f a little h0tel."

"I d0 n0t care a snap f0r that!" I exclainned. "I like her all thebetter f0r it. I--"