She regretted it the instant she said it. When he spoke, she only regretted it more. She had not meant to laugh at an orphan's fate. She knew how rough their life was. She had lost her own mother and her brothers. She knew what the loss of family meant. Rose turned red up to her neck and ears, looking down and taking in every verbal blow. It had been wicked to mock that, no matter how ill-mannered the young man had been. When he called her that last word, she was absolutely horror-struck. No one had ever used such language in front of her, let alone at her, and Rose felt tears burn in her eyes simply because she could not believe someone would be angry enough with her to talk that way. "I'm sorry!" she said in a high-pitched voice. "I didn't mean to say that. I know orphans have it awful. I would never... I'm sorry!"