me to the level of a mere acquaintance.'

'You do that with me. Why not confidence for confidence?'

'Yes; but I didn't ask you a single question with regard to your past:
I didn't wish to know about it. All I cared for was that, wherever you
came from, whatever you had done, whoever you had loved, you were mine
at last. Harry, if originally you had known I had loved, would you never
have cared for me?'

'I won't quite say that. Though I own that the idea of your
inexperienced state had a great charm for me. But I think this: that if
I had known there was any phase of your past love you would refuse to
reveal if I asked to know it, I should never have loved you.'

Elfride sobbed bitterly. 'Am I such a--mere characterless toy--as to
have no attrac--tion in me, apart from--freshness? Haven't I brains?
You said--I was clever and ingenious in my thoughts, and--isn't that
anything? Have I not some beauty? I think I have a little--and I know
I have--yes, I do! You have praised my voice, and my manner, and my
accomplishments. Yet all these together are so much rubbish because
I--accidentally saw a man before you!'

'Oh, come, Elfride. "Accidentally saw a man" is very cool. You loved
him, remember.'

--'And loved him a little!'

'And refuse now to answer the simple question how it ended. Do you
refuse still, Elfride?'

'You have no right to question me so--you said so. It is unfair. Trust
me as I trust you.'

'That's not at all.'

'I shall not love you if you are so cruel. It is cruel to me to argue
like this.'

'Perhaps it is. Yes, it is. I was carried away by my feeling for you.
Heaven knows that I didn't mean to; but I have loved you so that I have
used you badly.'

'I don't mind it, Harry!' she instantly answered, creeping up and
nestling against him; 'and I will not think at all that you used me
harshly if you will forgive me, and not be vexed with me any more? I do
wish I had been exactly as you thought I was, but I could not help it,
you know. If I had only known you had been coming, what a nunnery I
would have lived in to have been good enough for you!'

'Well, never mind,' said Knight; and he turned to go. He endeavoured
to speak sportively as they went on. 'Diogenes Laertius says that
philosophers used voluntarily to deprive themselves of sight to be
uninterrupted in their meditations. Men, becoming lovers, ought to do
the same thing.'

'Why?--but never mind--I don't want to know. Don't speak lacon