"I thought and hoped you could not mean it. You, so young, untried, and beautiful, Estella! Surely it is not in Nature."

     "It is in my nature," she returned. And then she added, with a stress upon the words, "It is in the nature formed within me. I make a great difference between you and all other people when I say so much. I can do no more."

     "Is it not true," said I, "that Bentley Drummle is in town here, and pursuing you?"

     "It is quite true," she replied, referring to him with the indifference of utter contempt.

     "That you encourage him, and ride out with him, and that he dines with you this very day?"

     She seemed a little surprised that I should know it, but again replied, "Quite true."

     "You cannot love him, Estella!"

     Her fingers stopped for the first time, as she retorted rather angrily, "What have I told you? Do you still think, in spite of it, that I do not mean what I say?"

     "You would never marry him, Estella?"