"We are friends,--if you mean that."
"Of course you are friends. She only wanted to have somebody to tell her that somebody had maligned you. It mattered not much who it was. She was ready to believe any one who would say a good word for you. Perhaps I wasn't just the person to do it, but I believe even I was sufficient to serve the turn."
"Did you say a good word for me?"

"We are friends, if you mean that."
"Of course you are friends. She only wanted to have somebody to tell her that you had been maligned. She was ready to believe anyone who would say a good word for you."
"Did you say a good word for me?"
