wish she had been forty fathoms under the sea before you
ever saw her!--before you ceased to love me!"

A flood of tears emphasized the sentence, which seemed lost upon Mr.
Minge, as he lighted a cigar, tried its flavor, threw it away, and
puffed the smoke from a second.

"I am sorry you can't smoke and compose your nerves, as I am preparing
to do,--though I confess I prefer to kiss your lips untainted by such
odors. Shall I?"

He held his cigar aside to prevent the wind from wafting the curling
column of smoke in her face, and bent his head close to hers; but she
put up her hand to prevent the caress, and averted her face.

"As you like. But mark you, Constance, the next time our lips touch,
you will find yourself in the nominative case, while I meekly fill an
objective position. You are a poor, wilful, spoiled child, and I must
begin to undo my own ruinous work."

He picked up his hat and walked off, followed by a pretty Italian
mouse-colored greyhound, whose silver bell tinkled as she ran down the
steps.

"Merton, come back! Do not leave me here alone, or I shall die.
Brother!--"

On strode the stalwart figure, looking neither to right nor left,
and behind him trailed the vaporous aroma of the fine cigar.
Raising herself on her couch, the invalid elevated her voice, and
exclaimed,--

"Please, dear Merton, come back,--at least long enough to let me kiss
you. Please, brother!"

He paused,--wavered,--drew geometrical figures on the ground with the
tip of his boot, and finally took off his hat, turned and bowed,
saying,--

"Show some flag of truce, if you really want me to return."

She raised her hands and gracefully tossed him several kisses.

Slowly Mr. Minge retraced his steps, and, as he sat down once more
close to his sister and pushed back his hat, she saw that he intended
her to realize that her reign was at an end; and she trembled and
turned pale at the expression with which he regarded her.

"Merton, don't you know--don't you believe--that I love you above
everything else?"

She sat erect, and stole one arm around the neck that did not bend
toward her, as was its habit.

"If you really loved me, you would desire to see me happy."

"I do desire it, earnestly and sincerely; and there is no sacrifice I
would not make to see you really happy."

"Provided I selected your mode of obtaining the boon, and moreover
consulted your caprices and antipathies; otherwise, my happiness would
annoy and