myself that I would have it out with
him--either he or I would have to go to the right about. I said I would
smash him, and I have smashed him. Do you see this check? That was
waiting for me at my rooms this morning. Eleven hundred pounds--that was
two days' work only, and I had plenty more before. But do you think it
is his check? Not a bit! It is drawn out by a friend of his. It is lent
him. He is just so much the more in debt, and I don't believe he has a
farthing in the world. And that's the wonderful creature all you women
are worshipping!"

Now this foolish boy ought to have taken care, but he had been carried
away on a whirlwind of jealous rage. All the time that he was pouring
forth his vengeful story, Miss Burgoyne's face had become more and more
hard; and when he ceased, she answered him, in low and measured tones
that conveyed the most bitter scorn.

"Yes," she said, "we women are worthy of being despised, when--when we
think anything of such creatures as men are capable of showing
themselves to be! Oh, it is a fine time to come and boast of what you
have done, when the man you hate--when the man you _fear_--is lying ill,
delirious, perhaps dying. That is the time to boast of your strength,
your prowess! And how dare you come to me," she continued, with a sudden
toss of her head, "with all this story of gambling and debt? What is it
to me? It seems that is the way men fight now--with a pack of cards!
That is fighting between--men, and the victor waves a check in triumph,
and comes and brags about it to women! Well--I--I don't
appreciate--such--such manliness. I think you had better--go and see to
your father's funeral--instead of--of bringing such a story to me!" said
Miss Burgoyne, with heaving bosom; and it was real indignation this
time, for there were tears in her eyes as she turned proudly away from
him and marched straight for the door of the room.

"For Heaven's sake!" he cried, intercepting her. "Kate, I did not mean
to offend you! I take back what I said. How could any one help being
jealous--seeing your off-and-on relations with him all this time, and
you would never say one thing or another. Forgive me."

She turned to him, and there were still indignant tears in her eyes.

"It isn't fair!" she said. "It isn't fair!--he is ill; you might have a
little humanity."

"Yes, I know," he said, quite humbly and imploringly (for this young man
was in a bad way, and had lost his head as well as his he