h it belonged to that past into
which so many tender and beautiful visions have faded.

The maiden of to-day still dreams of the knightly armour-clad heroes
of the twelfth century; it is not her fault that she is presently glad
to fall in love with a gentleman on the Stock Exchange, in a top hat
and a frock coat.

"I have seen something of women of the world," said Peter, who had
scarcely yet skimmed the bubbles from the surface of that society,
whose depths he believed himself to have explored. "I suppose that is
what my mother wants to turn into, when she talks of London and Paris.
_My mother_! who has lived in the country all her life."

"I suppose some women are worldly," said John, as gravely as possible,
"and no doubt the shallow-hearted, the stupid, the selfish are to be
found everywhere, and belonging to either sex; but, nevertheless,
solid virtue and true kindness are to be met with among the dames of
Mayfair as among the matrons of the country-side. Their shibboleth is
different, that's all. Perhaps--it is possible--that the speech of the
town ladies is the more charitable, that they seek more persistently
to do good to their fellow-creatures. I don't know. Comparisons
are odious, but so," he added, with a slight laugh, "are general
conclusions, founded on popular prejudice rather than individual
experience--odious."

Here John perceived that his words of wisdom were conveying hardly any
meaning to Peter, who was only waiting impatiently till he had come
to an end of them; so he pursued this topic no further, and contented
himself by inquiring:

"What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to explain to her," said Peter, eagerly, "how unsuitable
it would be; and to advise her to settle down quietly at the Dower
House, as I'm sure my father would have wished her to do. That's all."

"I see," said John, "you want me to put the case to her from your
point of view."

"I wish you would," said Peter, earnestly; "every one says you're so
eloquent. Surely you could talk her over?"

"I hope I am not eloquent in private life," said John, laughing. "But
if you want to know how it appears to me--?"

Peter nodded gravely, pipe in mouth.

"Let us see. To start with," said John, thoughtfully, "you went off,
a boy from Eton, to serve your country when you thought, and rightly,
that your country had need of you. You distinguished yourself in South
Africa--"

"Surely you needn't go into all that?" said Peter, stari