n steal hours for his friend, and can offer them unreservedly to my
irresistible rival, the new yacht.

"I shall write no more to-day. If so lady-like a person as I am could
feel a tigerish tingling all over her to the very tips of her fingers, I
should suspect myself of being in that condition at the present moment.
But, with _my_ manners and accomplishments, the thing is, of course, out
of the question. We all know that a lady has no passions."

"October 17th.--A letter for Midwinter this morning from the
slave-owners--I mean the newspaper people in London--which has set him
at work again harder than ever. A visit at luncheon-time and another
visit at dinner-time from Armadale. Conversation at luncheon about the
yacht. Conversation at dinner about Miss Milroy. I have been honored,
in regard to that young lady, by an invitation to go with Armadale
to-morrow to the Toledo, and help him to buy some presents for the
beloved object. I didn't fly out at him--I only made an excuse. Can
words express the astonishment I feel at my own patience? No words can
express it."

"October 18th.--Armadale came to breakfast this morning, by way of
catching Midwinter before he shuts himself up over his work.

"Conversation the same as yesterday's conversation at lunch. Armadale
has made his bargain with the agent for hiring the yacht. The agent
(compassionating his total ignorance of the language) has helped him to
find an interpreter, but can't help him to find a crew. The interpreter
is civil and willing, but doesn't understand the sea. Midwinter's
assistance is indispensable; and Midwinter is requested (and consents!)
to work harder than ever, so as to make time for helping his friend.
When the crew is found, the merits and defects of the vessel are to
be tried by a cruise to Sicily, with Midwinter on board to give his
opinion. Lastly (in case she should feel lonely), the ladies' cabin is
most obligingly placed at the disposal of Midwinter's wife. All this
was settled at the breakfast-table; and it ended with one of Armadale's
neatly-turned compliments, addressed to myself: 'I mean to take Neelie
sailing with me, when we are married. And you have such good taste, you
will be able to tell me everything the ladies' cabin wants between that
time and this.'

"If some women bring such men as this into the world, ought other women
to allow them to live? It is a matter of opinion. _I_ think not.

"What maddens me is to see, as I do