"Never!" said Mr. Hale, first startled and then flurried by the new idea. "No, I am sure you are wrong, I am almost certain you are mistaken. If there is anything, it is all on Mr. Thornton's side. Poor fellow! I hope and trust he is not thinking of her, for I am sure she would not have him."
"Well! I'm a bachelor, and have steered clear of love affairs all my life; so perhaps my opinion is not worth having. Or else I should say there were very pretty symptoms about her!"

'Never!' said Mr. Hale, startled. 'No, I am sure you are mistaken. If there is anything, it is on Mr. Thornton's side. Poor fellow! I hope he is not thinking of her, for I am sure she would not have him.'
'Well! I'm a bachelor, so perhaps my opinion is not worth having. Or else I should say she showed some pretty symptoms!'
