o. I am very fond of Mabel;--only not just like that."

"Not just like what?"

"I had better tell the whole truth at once."

"Certainly tell the truth, Silverbridge. I cannot say that you are
bound in duty to tell the whole truth even to your father in such a
matter."

"But I mean to tell you everything. Mabel did not seem to care for me
much--in London. And then I saw someone,--someone I liked better."
Then he stopped, but as the Duke did not ask any questions he plunged
on. "It was Miss Boncassen."

"Miss Boncassen!"

"Yes, sir," said Silverbridge, with a little access of decision.

"The American young lady?"

"Yes, sir."

"Do you know anything of her family?"

"I think I know all about her family. It is not much in the way
of--family."

"You have not spoken to her about it?"

"Yes, sir;--I have settled it all with her, on condition--"

"Settled it with her that she is to be your wife!"

"Yes, sir,--on condition that you will approve."

"Did you go to her, Silverbridge, with such a stipulation as that?"

"It was not like that."

"How was it then?"

"She stipulated. She will marry me if you will consent."

"It was she then who thought of my wishes and my feeling;--not you?"

"I knew that I loved her. What is a man to do when he feels like
that? Of course I meant to tell you." The Duke was now looking very
black. "I thought you liked her, sir."

"Liked her! I did like her. I do like her. What has that to do with
it? Do you think I like none but those with whom I should think it
fitting to ally myself in marriage? Is there to be no duty in such
matters, no restraint, no feeling of what is due to your own name,
and to others who bear it? The lad out there who is sweeping the
walks can marry the first girl that pleases his eye if she will take
him. Perhaps his lot is the happier because he owns such liberty.
Have you the same freedom?"

"I suppose I have,--by law."

"Do you recognise no duty but what the laws impose upon you? Should
you be disposed to eat and drink in bestial excess, because the laws
would not hinder you? Should you lie and sleep all the day, the law
would say nothing! Should you neglect every duty which your position
imposes on you, the law could not interfere! To such a one as you
the law can be no guide. You should so live as not to come near the
law,--or to have the law to come near to you. From all evil against
which the law bars you, you should be barred, at an infinite