natural tone; 'the more I
think of Elizabeth the more clear it becomes to me that she is the one
woman in the world for whom marriage with me is possible. I perceive
that to the superficial observer my selection must appear extraordinary.
I do not pretend to explain it, or even to understand it. The study of
mankind is beyond man. Only fools attempt it. Maybe it is her contrast
to myself that attracts me. Maybe my, perhaps, too spiritual nature
feels the need of contact with her coarser clay to perfect itself. I
cannot tell. These things must always remain mysteries. I only know
that I love her--that, if any reliance is to be placed upon instinct, she
is the mate to whom Artemis is leading me.'

"It was clear that he was in love, and I therefore ceased to argue with
him. 'You kept up your acquaintanceship with her, then, after you'--I
was going to say 'after you ceased to be Smith,' but not wishing to
agitate him by more mention of that person than I could help, I
substituted, 'after you returned to the Albany?'

"'Not exactly,' he replied; 'I lost sight of her after I left Yarmouth,
and I did not see her again until five days ago, when I came across her
in an aerated bread shop. I had gone in to get a glass of milk and a
bun, and _she_ brought them to me. I recognised her in a moment.' His
face lighted up with quite a human smile. 'I take tea there every
afternoon now,' he added, glancing towards the clock, 'at four.'

"'There's not much need to ask _her_ views on the subject,' I said,
laughing; 'her feelings towards you were pretty evident.'

"'Well, that is the curious part of it,' he replied, with a return to his
former embarrassment; 'she does not seem to care for me now at all.
Indeed, she positively refuses me. She says--to put it in the dear
child's own racy language--that she wouldn't take me on at any price. She
says it would be like marrying a clockwork figure without the key. She's
more frank than complimentary, but I like that.'

"'Wait a minute,' I said; 'an idea occurs to me. Does she know of your
identity with Smith?'

"'No,' he replied, alarmed, 'I would not have her know it for worlds.
Only yesterday she told me that I reminded her of a fellow she had met at
Yarmouth, and my heart was in my mouth.'

"'How did she look when she told you that?' I asked.

"'How did she look?' he repeated, not understanding me.

"'What was her expression at that moment?' I said--'was it severe or