‘Miss Dartle,’ I returned, ‘pray do not think — ’

‘I don’t!’ she said. ‘Oh dear me, don’t suppose that I think anything! I am not suspicious. I only ask a question.

I don’t state any opinion. I want to found an opinion on what you tell me. Then, it’s not so? Well! I am very glad to know it.’

‘It certainly is not the fact,’ said I, perplexed, ‘that I am accountable for Steerforth’s having been away from home longer than usual — if he has been: which I really don’t know at this moment, unless I understand it from you. I have not seen him this long while, until last night.’

‘No?’