minine
mind is curiosity. They want to know what is inside Love before they
love. Guy Oscard was a new specimen of the genus homo; and while
remaining perfectly faithful to Jack, Miss Millicent Chyne saw no reason
why she should not pass the time by studying him, merely, of course,
in a safe and innocent manner. She was one of those intelligent young
ladies who think deeply--about young men. And such thinking usually
takes the form of speculation as to how the various specimens selected
will act under specified circumstances. The circumstances need hardly
be mentioned. Young men are only interesting to young women in
circumstances strictly personal to and bearing upon themselves. In a
word, maidens of a speculative mind are always desirous of finding out
how different men will act when they are in love; and we all know
and cannot fail to applaud the assiduity with which they pursue their
studies.

"Ah!" said Miss Chyne, "it is very good of you to take pity upon two
lone females. I was afraid that you had gone off to the wilds of America
or somewhere in search of big game. Do you know, Mr. Oscard, you are
quite a celebrity? I heard you called the 'big-game man' the other day,
also the 'travelling fellow.'"

The specimen smiled happily under this delicate handling.

"It is not," he said modestly, "a very lofty fame. Anybody could let off
a rifle."

"I am afraid I could not," replied Millicent, with a pretty little
shudder of horror, "if anything growled."

"Mr. Oscard has just been telling me," interposed Lady Cantourne
conversationally, "that he is thinking of going off to the wilds again."

"Then it is very disappointing of him," said Millicent, with a
little droop of the eyelids which went home. "It seems to be only the
uninteresting people who stay at home and live humdrum lives of enormous
duration."

"He seems to think that his friends are going to cast him off because
his poor father died without the assistance of a medical man," continued
the old lady meaningly.

"No--I never said that, Lady Cantourne."

"But you implied it."

Guy Oscard shook his head. "I hate being a notoriety," he said. "I like
to pass through with the crowd. If I go away for a little while I shall
return a nonentity."

At this moment another visitor was announced, and presently made his
appearance. He was an old gentleman of no personality whatever, who was
nevertheless welcomed effusively, because two people in the room had
a