words that became audible.

"She is indeed!" urged Patty. "She says that--even if she wished--she
could never break off with you; as I am _sure_ she would never wish!"

"Ah! that's what she says," murmured the other. And abruptly he rose.
"There's no use in talking about this. You are here for a holiday, and
not to be bored with other people's troubles. The sun is trying to
shine. Let us go and see the town, and then--yes, I'll go back with you
to Dudley, just to hear whether Eve is feeling any better. You could
see her, and then come out and tell me."

"Mr. Hilliard, I'm quite sure you are worrying without any cause--you
are, indeed!"

"I know I am. It's all nonsense. Come along, and let us enjoy the
sunshine."

They spent three or four hours together, Hilliard resolute in his
discharge of hospitable duties, and Miss Ringrose, after a brief spell
of unnatural gravity, allowing no reflection to interfere with her
holiday mood. Hilliard had never felt quite sure as to the limits of
Patty's intelligence; he could not take her seriously, and yet felt
unable to treat her altogether as a child or an imbecile. To-day,
because of his preoccupied thoughts, and the effort it cost him to be
jocose, he talked for the most part in a vein of irony which impressed,
but did not much enlighten, his hearer.

"This," said he, when they had reached the centre of things, "is the
Acropolis of Birmingham. Here are our great buildings, of which we
boast to the world. They signify the triumph of Democracy--and of
money. In front of you stands the Town Hall. Here, to the left, is the
Midland Institute, where a great deal of lecturing goes on, and the big
free library, where you can either read or go to sleep. I have done
both in my time. Behind yonder you catch a glimpse of the fountain that
plays to the glory of Joseph Chamberlain--did you ever hear of him? And
further back still is Mason College, where young men are taught a
variety of things, including discontent with a small income. To the
right there, that's the Council Hall--splendid, isn't it! We bring our
little boys to look at it, and tell them if they make money enough they
may some day go in and out as if it were their own house. Behind it you
see the Art Gallery. We don't really care for pictures; a great big
machine is our genuine delight; but it wouldn't be nice to tell
everybody that."

"What a lot I have learnt from you!" exclaimed the girl ingenuously,
when at length t