place. You will do me a favor if you will
test my recollection of what has happened by your own. If my fancy
has exaggerated anything, if my memory is playing me false anywhere, I
entreat you to stop me, and tell me of it.'

"I commanded myself sufficiently to ask what the circumstances were to
which he referred, and in what way I was personally concerned in them.

"'You were personally concerned in them in this way,' he answered. 'The
circumstances to which I refer began with your speaking to Allan about
Miss Milroy, in what I thought a very inconsiderate and very impatient
manner. I am afraid I spoke just as petulantly on my side, and I beg
your pardon for what I said to you in the irritation of the moment. You
left the room. After a short absence, you came back again, and made
a perfectly proper apology to Allan, which he received with his usual
kindness and sweetness of temper. While this went on, you and he were
both standing by the supper-table; and Allan resumed some conversation
which had already passed between you about the Neapolitan wine. He said
he thought he should learn to like it in time, and he asked leave to
take another glass of the wine we had on the table. Am I right so far?'

"The words almost died on my lips; but I forced them out, and answered
him that he was right so far.

"'You took the flask out of Allan's hand,' he proceeded. 'You said
to him, good-humoredly, "You know you don't really like the wine, Mr.
Armadale. Let me make you something which may be more to your taste. I
have a recipe of my own for lemonade. Will you favor me by trying it?"
In those words, you made your proposal to him, and he accepted it. Did
he also ask leave to look on, and learn how the lemonade was made? and
did you tell him that he would only confuse you, and that you would give
him the recipe in writing, if he wanted it?'

"This time the words did really die on my lips. I could only bow my
head, and answer 'Yes' mutely in that way. Midwinter went on.

"'Allan laughed, and went to the window to look out at the Bay, and I
went with him. After a while Allan remarked, jocosely, that the mere
sound of the liquids you were pouring out made him thirsty. When he said
this, I turned round from the window. I approached you, and said the
lemonade took a long time to make. You touched me, as I was walking away
again, and handed me the tumbler filled to the brim. At the same time,
Allan turned round from the window; and I,