egan to brood on his wrongs, and to take umbrage at
the catholicity of her enjoyment and enthusiasm. So long as he
had been the medium through which she was brought in contact with
others, he had been well enough content that they should amuse
and interest her; but it was a very different thing now.

So he watched her jealously, and raked up former conversations,
and came to the conclusion that it was his duty to remonstrate
with her. He had remarked, too, that she never could talk with
him now without breaking away after a short time into badinage.
Her badinage certainly was very charming and pleasant, and kept
him on the stretch; but why should she not let him be serious and
sentimental when he pleased? She did not break out in this manner
with other people. So he really felt it to be his duty to speak
to her on the subject--not in the least for his own sake, but for
hers.

Accordingly, when the party broke up, and they started for the
fete at St. John's, he resolved to carry out his intentions. At
first he could not get an opportunity while they were walking
about on the beautiful lawn of the great garden, seeing and being
seen, and listening to music, and looking at choice flowers. But
soon a chance offered. She stayed behind the rest without
noticing it, to examine some specially beautiful plant, and he
was by her side in a moment, and proposed to show her the smaller
garden, which lies beyond, to which she innocently consented; and
they were soon out of the crowd, and in comparative solitude.

She remarked that he was somewhat silent and grave, but thought
nothing of it, and chatted on as usual, remarking upon the
pleasant company she had been in at luncheon.

This opened the way for Tom's lecture.

"How easily you seem to get interested with new people!" he
began.

"Do I?" she said. "Well, don't you think it very natural?"

"Wouldn't it be a blessing if people would always say just what
they think and mean, though?"

"Yes, and a great many do," she replied, looking at him in some
wonder, and not quite pleased with the turn things were taking.

"Any ladies, do you think? You know we haven't many opportunities
of observing."

"Yes, I think quite as many ladies as men. More, indeed, as far
as my small experience goes."

"You really maintain deliberately that you have met people--men
and women--who can talk to you or anyone else for a quarter of an
hour quite honestly, and say nothing at all which the