Shelaughed，clearlynotatmycomplimentasIamsuresheneednothavedone，sinceitwasaverycommonplacefact，butatsomethingwhichwasstirringinhermind；andshestilllookedatmekindly，butwiththeabove-saidkeenlookinhereyes，andthenshesaid:
“Well，perhapsitisstrange，thoughIhaveagooddealtodoathome，whatwithlookingaftermyfather，anddealingwithtwoorthreeyoungmenwhohavetakenaspeciallikingtome，andallofwhomIcannotpleaseatonce。Butyou，dearneighbour；itseemstomestrangerthatyoushouldknowtheupperriver，thanthatIshouldnotknowit；for，asIunderstand，youhaveonlybeeninEnglandafewdays。Butperhapsyoumeanthatyouhavereadaboutitinbooks，andseenpicturesofit？——thoughthatdoesnotcometomucheither，“
“Truly，“saidI。“Besides，IhavenotreadanybooksabouttheThames:
itwasoneoftheminorstupiditiesofourtimethatnoonethoughtfittowriteadecentbookaboutwhatmayfairlybecalledouronlyEnglishriver。“
ThewordswerenosooneroutofmymouththanIsawthatIhadmadeanothermistake；andIfeltreallyannoyedwithmyself，asIdidnotwanttogointoalongexplanationjustthen，orbeginanotherseriesofOdysseanlies。Somehow，Ellenseemedtoseethis，andshetooknoadvantageofmyslip；herpiercinglookchangedintooneofmerefrankkindness，andshesaid: