ex, who are unrelated by ties of consanguinity;
or, where a relationship does exist, that sort of affection which is
more than cousinly, and which leads to marriage. Such an emotion is
entirely foreign to my nature, and therefore of course does not form a
predominant characteristic of my being. But on this you cannot base an
argument against what I claim, because I am an exception to the rule.
With the vast majority, love is undoubtedly the leading motive of
existence."

"Miss Dudley, if you find the study of mankind interesting in the form
of novels, which you say record the impressions of the authors, then
you must pardon my studying your character as you kindly reveal it to
me. This must explain my further questioning. May I proceed?"

"Oh! I see! You wish to use me as the surgeon does the cadaver. You
would dissect me, merely for the purposes of general study. It is
hardly fair, but proceed." She laughed gayly.

"You said," continued Leon, "that love, such as you have described, is
foreign to your nature. Am I to understand that you could not form an
attachment of that kind which leads to matrimony?"

"Well, all girls say that. But I believe I may say so, and be
truthful. I doubt whether any man will ever inspire me with that love,
without which I would consider marriage a sin. I do not say this idly,
or upon the impulse of the moment. While I have never felt those
heart-aches of which the novelists write, yet I have considered the
subject deeply, in so far as it affects myself. So I say again, love
is foreign to my nature."

"It is very singular!" said Leon, and he spoke almost as though
soliloquizing. "I have the same feelings. I have always thought that
no one would ever love me; but, latterly, I have come to consider the
subject from the other stand-point, and now I believe as you do that I
shall never love any woman. If I may go further, I would like to ask
you why you have adopted this theory about yourself? I will agree to
explain myself, if you will reply."

"With pleasure! From childhood I have been thrown almost exclusively
into the companionship of two exceptional men, my father, and Dr.
Medjora. I have the sincerest affection for them both. I say this, for
without loving them I would probably never have been so influenced by
them as I have been. While they are very unlike in their
personalities, yet they have one characteristic in common: a deep
longing for intellectual advancement. Growing up in