so occupied that I thought they might fall when you
are up in the clouds somewhere."

"No, I shall not forget."

"Well, such things happen. I might forget you if it were not for the
stocks."

"Then I shall keep the stocks, even if they fall."

"And we should both fall together. That would be some compensation. Not
much. Going to smash with you would be something like going to church
with Mr. Lyon. It might have a steadying effect."

"What has come over you tonight, Carmen?" Henderson asked, leaning
forward with an expression of half amusement, half curiosity.

"I've been thinking--doesn't that astonish you?--about life. It is
very serious. I got some new views talking with that Miss Debree from
Brandon. Chiefly from what she didn't say. She is such a lovely girl,
and just as unsophisticated--well, as we are. I fear I shocked her by
telling her your opinion of French novels."

"You didn't tell her that I approved of all the French novels you read?"

"Oh no! I didn't say you approved of any. It sort of came out that you
knew about them. She is so downright and conscientious. I declare I felt
virtuous shivers running all over me all the time I was with her. I'm
conscientious myself. I want everybody to know the worst of me. I wish
I could practice some concealment. But she rather discourages me. She
would take the color out of a career. She somehow doesn't allow for
color, I could see. Duty, duty--that is the way she looks at life. She'd
try to keep me up to it; no playing by the way. I liked her very much. I
like people not to have too much toleration. She would be just the wife
for some nice country rector."

"Perhaps I ought to tell her your plan for her? I dined with her last
night at the Stotts'."

"Yes?" Carmen had been wondering if he would tell her of that. "Was it
very dull?"

"Not very. There was music, distant enough not to interfere with
conversation, and the gallery afterwards."

"It must have been very exhilarating. You talked about the Duchess of
Bolinbroke, and the opera, and Prince Talleyrand, and the corner in
wheat--dear me, I know, so decorous! And you said Miss Debree was
there?"

"I had the honor of taking her out."

"Mr. Henderson"--the girl had risen to adjust the lamp-shade, and
now stood behind his chair with her arm resting on it, so that he was
obliged to turn his head backward to see her--"Mr. Henderson, do you
know you are getting to be a desperate flirt?" The laughing eyes