es. You would never have dared to call any
little devices, by which I sought to amuse or interest you, coquetry, so
long as they were only employed on your own behalf. My real offence is
that I thought the world consisted of you and some others."

"I am not your match in these sort of subtle discussions," said he,
bluntly, "but I know what I say is fact."

"That I'm a coquette?" said she, with so much feigned horror that Jack
could scarcely keep down the temptation to laugh."

"Just so; for the mere pleasure of displaying some grace or some
attraction, you 'd half kill a fellow with jealousy, or drive him
clean mad with uncertainty. You insist on admiration--or what you call
'homage,' which I trust is only a French name for it--and what's the end
of it all? You get plenty of this same homage; but--but--never mind. I
suppose I'm a fool to talk this way. You 're laughing at me besides, all
this while. I see it--I see it in your eyes."

[Illustration: 124]

"I was n't laughing, Jack, I assure you. I was simply thinking that
this discovery--I mean of my coquetry--was n't yours at all. Come, be
frank and own it. Who told you I was a coquette, Jack?"

"You regard me as too dull-witted to have found it out, do you?"

"No, Jack. Too honest-hearted--too unsuspecting, too generous, to put
an ill construction where a better one would do as well."

"If you mean that there are others who agree with me, you're quite
right."

"And who may they be?" asked she, with a quiet smile. "Come, I have a
right to know."

"I don't see the right."

"Certainly I have. It would be very ungenerous and very unjust to
let me continue to exercise all those pleasing devices you have just
stigmatized for the delectation of people who condemn them."

"Oh, you could n't help that. You'd do it just to amuse yourself, as I
'm sure was the case yesterday, when you put forth all your captivations
for that stupid old Viscount."

"Did I?"

"Did you? You have the face to ask it?"

"I have, Jack. I have courage for even more, for I will ask you, was
it not Marion said this? Was it not Marion who was so severe on all my
little gracefulnesses? Well, you need not answer if you don't like.
I 'll not press my question; but own, it is not fair for Marion, with
every advantage, her beauty and her surroundings--"

"Her what?"

"Well, I would not use a French word; but I meant to say, those
accessories which are represented by dress, and 'toilette'--n