and I speak my
mind."

"Madam," said I, "or miss, there are few things I hold in such
abhorrence as flirtation." As I said this I looked at her severely, and
she looked at me quizzically. She had gray eyes, which were capable of a
great variety of expressions, and her face, suffused by the light of a
bantering jocularity, was an attractive one. I was obliged to admit
this, in spite of my distaste for her.

"I like that," she said; "it sounds so well, after your vigorous
flirtation with our abbess. If I had not seen a good deal of that, I
should not have dared to ask you to flirt with me. I thought you liked
it, and now that she is gone might be willing to take up with some one
else."

I was irritated and disquieted. I had been very earnest in my attentions
to Mother Anastasia. Perhaps this lady had seen me attempt to kiss her
hand. I must set myself right.

"You are utterly mistaken," said I. "What I had to say to Mother
Anastasia related entirely to another person."

"One of the sisters in her institution?" she asked. "She had nothing to
do with any other persons, so far as I know. Truly, that is a capital
idea!" she exclaimed, without waiting for response from me. "In order to
flirt with a member of the sisterhood, a gentleman must direct his
attentions to the Mother Superior who represents them, and the flirting
is thus done by proxy. Now don't attempt to correct me. The idea is
entirely too delightful for me to allow it to be destroyed by any bare
statements or assertions."

"I suppose," I answered, "that Mother Anastasia has taken you into her
confidence?"

"Thank you very much for that most gratifying testimony to my powers of
insight!" she cried. "The Mother Superior gave me no confidences. So you
have been smitten by a gray-gown. How did you happen to become
acquainted with her? I do not imagine they allow gentleman visitors at
the House of Martha?"

"Madam, you know, or assume to know, so much of my affairs," said I,
"that in order to prevent injurious conjectures regarding the House of
Martha, its officers and inmates, I shall say that I became acquainted
in a perfectly legitimate manner with a young lady living therein, who
has not yet taken the vows of the permanent sisterhood, and I intend, as
soon as circumstances will permit, to make her an offer of marriage. I
assure you, I regret extremely that I have been obliged to talk in this
way to a stranger, and nothing could have induced me to do it