ur point of view," said Mr. Queed, "is a
moral--not an optic one. These acts which confer benefits on others," he
continued, "so peculiarly commended by your religion, are conceived by
it to work moral good to the doer. The _eyes_ (which you use
synecdochically to represent the _character_) of the person to whom they
are done, have nothing--"

"Mr. Queed," said Sharlee, briskly interrupting his exegetical words, "I
believe you are going off with Professor Nicolovius chiefly because--you
think he needs you!"

He looked up sharply, much surprised and irritated. "That is absolutely
foolish and absurd. I have nothing in the world to do with what
Professor Nicolovius needs. You must always remember that I am not a
subscriber to the tenets of your religion."

"It is not too late. I always remember that too."

"But I must say frankly that I am much surprised at the way you
interpret those tenets. For if--"

"Oh, you should never have tested me on such a question! Don't you see
that I'm the judge sitting in his or her own case? Two boarders gone at
one swoop! How shall I break the news to Aunt Jennie?"

He thought this over in silence and then said impatiently; "I'm sorry,
but I do not feel that I can consider that phase of the matter."

"Certainly not."

"The arrangement between us is a strictly business one, based on mutual
advantage, and to be terminated at will as the interests of either party
dictates."

"Exactly."

He turned a sharp glance on her, and rose. Having risen he stood a
moment, irresolute, frowning, troubled by a thought. Then he said, in an
annoyed, nervous voice:--

"Look here, will it be a serious thing for your aunt to lose me?"

The agent burst out laughing. He was surprised by her merriment; he
could not guess that it covered her instantaneous discovery that she
liked him more than she would ever have thought possible.

"While I'm on the other side--remember that," said she, "I'm obliged to
tell you that we can let the rooms any day at an hour's notice. Not that
the places of our two scholars can ever be filled, but the
boarding-house business is booming these days. We are turning them away.
Do you remember the night that you walked in here an hour late for
supper, and I arose and collected twenty dollars from you?"

"Oh, yes.... By the way--I have never asked--whatever became of that
extraordinary pleasure-dog of yours?"

"Thank you. He is bigger and more pleasurable than ever. I take