I saw things only from my own point of view , and was keenly sensitive to their politely concealed disapprobation , and my offended vanity found its victim in Miles . I belonged to the class who admit and resent slights , instead of ignoring them , as do the higher bred , and I thought he would not see those offered to me . I grew cold and formal to him . He was very patient , but his ways were not mine , and my manner puzzled and annoyed him . Our relations soon became strained , and the trifle necessary for an open quarrel was easily supplied . `` One evening I went to a large At Home given by his mother . I knew but few and , as Miles was necessarily busy with his social duties to her guests , I was , after the first hurried greeting , left unattended for a time . Not being accustomed to such functions , I resented this as a covert insult and , in a fit of jealous pique , I blush to own that I took the revenge of a peasant maid and entered into a marked flirtation with Fred Currie , who had paid me some attention before my engagement . When Miles was at liberty to seek me , he found me , to all appearances , quite absorbed in my companion and oblivious of his approach . He turned on his heel and went away , nor did he come near me the rest of the evening . `` I went home angry enough , but so miserable and repentant that if Miles had been his usual patient self when he called the following evening I would have begged his forgiveness . But I had gone too far ; his mother was shocked by my gaucherie , and he was humiliated and justly exasperated . We had a short , bitter quarrel . I said a great many foolish , unpardonable things , and finally I threw his ring at him . He gave me a startled look then , in which there was something of contempt , and went away without another word . `` After my anger had passed , I was wretchedly unhappy . I realized how unworthily I had acted , how deeply I loved Miles , and how lonely and empty my life would be without him . But he did not come back , and soon after I learned he had gone away -- whither no one knew , but it was supposed abroad . Well , I buried my hopes and tears in secret and went on with my life as people have to do -- a life in which I have learned to think , and which , I hope , has made me nobler and better . `` This summer I came here .
I heard much about a certain mysterious stranger known as ` Young Si ' who was fishing mackerel XXXXX this shore .
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