tic; she may not
have thought of what the thing would cost."

"You need not think about that," Herbert said loftily. "Miss Grey will
be a rich woman one of these days----"

"But I don't see that that much alters the matter, although I am
decidedly glad to hear it for her own sake, if it will make her any
happier than she is now--which I take it is not by any means certain.
But I don't see throwing away her money without her knowing all about
it any the more."

"Throwing away her money?" Herbert asked, in tones of lofty protest.

"Well, I don't mean that of course," the good-natured Heron hastened to
explain in all sincerity. "You know very well, my dear Blanchet, what I
think of your merits and your poems, and of all true poets. I know that
it is an honor for any one, whether man or woman, to be allowed to help
a poet to come out before the world and make a success. I only wish I
had had a chance of doing such a thing for you; but this young lady,
you know--I don't feel quite certain whether I ought to have spent her
money so freely."

"I can reassure you, I think," the poet said, with chilling dignity. "I
should never have allowed any one to do anything for me without having
satisfied myself that it was done in the unstinting spirit of
friendship, and by some one whom such kindness would not hurt."

"All right; I am glad to hear you say so, of course, but you won't
wonder at my scruples, perhaps----"

"Your scruples, my dear fellow, do you infinite honor," Mr. Blanchet
said, with a slight dash of irony in his tone, which Heron did not at
the moment perceive, being in truth engrossed by some other thoughts.
"But you may accept my assurance that there is no further occasion for
them, and we will, if you please, change the subject."

Victor did not feel by any means well satisfied that there was no
occasion for scruple, nor did he at all like his poetic friend's way of
looking at the matter. But he reflected that Blanchet might after all
have good warrant for what he had said, and that it was not for him to
cavil at the generosity of a rich girl--if she were rich--toward a poor
poet.

So they went along, the poet and his distinguished political friend, to
the scene of the artistic and literary gathering, which the latter was
so proud to see, and the former so proud to show.

We have all read in story about the effect of some little magic word,
which once spoken makes that which was lovely before seem but loath