of loving Miss Boncassen was offensive to him.

"It's because you know her that I've come to you. She thinks that
you're after her." Dolly as he said this lifted himself quickly up
in his seat, and nodded his head mysteriously as he looked into his
companion's face. It was as much as though he should say, "I see you
are surprised, but so it is." Then he went on. "She does, the pert
poppet!" This was almost too much for Silverbridge; but still he
contained himself. "She won't look at me because she has got it into
her head that perhaps some day she may be Duchess of Omnium! That of
course is out of the question."

"Upon my word all this seems to me to be so very--very,--distasteful
that I think you had better say nothing more about it."

"It is distasteful," said Dolly; "but the truth is I am so
downright,--what you may call enamoured--"

"Don't talk such stuff as that here," said Silverbridge, jumping up.
"I won't have it."

"But I am. There is nothing I wouldn't do to get her. Of course it's
a good match for her. I've got three separate properties; and when
the governor goes off I shall have a clear fifteen thousand a year."

"Oh, bother!"

"Of course that's nothing to you, but it is a very tidy income for a
commoner. And how is she to do better?"

"I don't know how she could do much worse," said Silverbridge in a
transport of rage. Then he pulled his moustache in vexation, angry
with himself that he should have allowed himself to say even a
word on so preposterous a supposition. Isabel Boncassen and Dolly
Longstaff! It was Titania and Bottom over again. It was absolutely
necessary that he should get rid of this intruder, and he began to be
afraid that he could not do this without using language which would
be uncivil. "Upon my word," he said, "I think you had better not talk
about it any more. The young lady is one for whom I have a very great
respect."

"I mean to marry her," said Dolly, thinking thus to vindicate
himself.

"You might as well think of marrying one of the stars."

"One of the stars!"

"Or a royal princess!"

"Well! Perhaps that is your opinion, but I can't say that I agree
with you. I don't see why she shouldn't take me. I can give her a
position which you may call Al out of the Peerage. I can bring her
into society. I can make an English lady of her."

"You can't make anything of her,--except to insult her,--and me too
by talking of her."

"I don't quite understand this," said th