you enough to teach you," said Forgue.

"You are my riding-master," said Arctura; "Mr. Grant is my master in
Greek."

Forgue strangled an imprecation on Mr. Grant, and tried to laugh, but
there was not a laugh inside him.

"Then you won't ride to-day?" he said.

"I think not," replied Arctura.

She ought to have said she would not. It is a pity to let doubt alight
on decision. Her reply re-opened the whole question.

"I cannot see what should induce you to allow that fellow the honour of
reading with you!" said Forgue. "He's a long-winded, pedantic, ill-bred
lout!"

"Mr. Grant is my friend!" said Arctura, and raising her head looked him
in the eyes.

"Take my word for it, you are mistaken in him," he said.

"I neither value nor ask your opinion of him," returned Arctura. "I
merely acquaint you with the fact that he is my friend."

"Here's the devil and all to pay!" thought Forgue.

"I beg your pardon," he said: "you do not know him as I do!"

"Not?--and with so much better opportunity of judging!"

"He has never played the dominie with you!" said Forgue foolishly.

"Indeed he has!"

"He has! Confound his insolence! How?"

"He won't let me study as I want.--How has he interfered with you?"

"We won't quarrel about him," rejoined Forgue, attempting a tone of
gaiety, but instantly growing serious. "We who ought to be so much to
each other--"

Something told him he had already gone too far.

"I do not know what you mean--or rather, I am not willing to think I
know what you mean," said Arctura. "After what took place--"

In her turn she ceased: he had said nothing!

"Jealous!" concluded Forgue; "--a good sign!"

"I see he has been talking against me!" he said.

"If you mean Mr. Grant, you mistake. He never, so far as I remember,
once mentioned you to me."

"I know better!"

"You are rude. He never spoke of it; but I have seen enough with my own
eyes--"

"If you mean that silly fancy--why, Arctura!--you know it was but a
boyish folly!"

"And since then you have grown a man!--How many months has it taken?"

"I assure you, on the word of a gentleman, there is nothing in it now.
It is all over, and I am heartily ashamed of it."

A pause of a few seconds followed: it seemed as many minutes, and
unbearable.

"You will come out with me?" said Forgue: she might be relenting,
though she did not look like it!

"No," she said; "I will not."

"Well," he returned, with simulated coolness, "this