it signify?"

"No;--of course. We inferior people may lose our money just as we
please. But a man who can look as clever as Mr. Tregear ought to win
always."

"I told you just now that he was a friend of mine."

"But don't you think that he does look clever?" There could be no
question but that Tregear, when he disliked his company, could show
his dislike by his countenance; and it was not improbable that he
had done so in the presence of Mr. Adolphus Longstaff. "Now tell the
truth, Lady Mabel; does he not look conceited sometimes?"

"He generally looks as if he knew what he was talking about, which is
more than some other people do."

"Of course he is a great deal more clever than I am. I know that.
But I don't think even he can be so clever as he looks. 'Or you so
stupid,' that's what you ought to say now."

"Sometimes, Mr. Longstaff, I deny myself the pleasure of saying what
I think."

When all this was over she was very angry with herself for the
anxiety she had expressed about Tregear. This Mr. Longstaff was, she
thought, exactly the man to report all she had said in the public
room at the club. But she had been annoyed by what she had heard as
to her friend. She knew that he of all men should keep himself free
from such follies. Those others had, as it were, a right to make
fools of themselves. It had seemed so natural that the young men of
her own class should dissipate their fortunes and their reputations
by every kind of extravagance! Her father had done so, and she had
never even ventured to hope that her brother would not follow her
father's example. But Tregear, if he gave way to such follies as
these, would soon fall headlong into a pit from which there would be
no escape. And if he did fall, she knew herself well enough to be
aware that she could not stifle, nor even conceal, the misery which
this would occasion her. As long as he stood well before the world
she would be well able to assume indifference. But were he to be
precipitated into some bottomless misfortunes then she could only
throw herself after him. She could see him marry, and smile,--and
perhaps even like his wife. And while he was doing so, she could also
marry, and resolve that the husband whom she took should be made to
think that he had a loving wife. But were Frank to die,--then must
she fall upon his body as though he had been known by all the world
to be her lover. Something of this feeling came upon her now, when
she heard t