marry?"

"That's what has come on since we met in Paris," Nick explained, "and it
makes just the difference."

"Ah my poor friend," smiled Gabriel, much arrested, "no wonder you've an
eloquence, an accent!"

"It's a pity I have them in the wrong place. I'm expected to have them
in the House of Commons."

"You will when you make your farewell speech there--to announce that you
chuck it up. And may I venture to ask who's to be your wife?" the
visitor pursued.

"Mrs. Dallow has kindly consented to accept that yoke. I think you saw
her in Paris."

"Ah yes: you spoke of her to me, and I remember asking you even then if
you were in love with her."

"I wasn't then," said Nick.

Nash had a grave pause. "And are you now?"

"Oh dear, yes."

"That would be better--if it wasn't worse."

"Nothing could be better," Nick declared. "It's the best thing that can
happen to me."

"Well," his friend continued, "you must let me very respectfully
approach this lady. You must let me bring her round."

"Bring her round to what?"

"To everything. Talk her over."

"Talk her under!" Nick laughed--but making his joke a little as to gain
time. He remembered the effect this adviser had produced on Julia--an
effect that scantly ministered to the idea of another meeting. Julia had
had no occasion to allude again to Nick's imperturbable friend; he had
passed out of her life at once and for ever; but there flickered up a
quick memory of the contempt he had led her to express, together with a
sense of how odd she would think it her intended should have thrown over
two pleasant visits to cultivate such company.

"Over to a proper pride in what you may do," Nash returned--"what you
may do above all if she'll help you."

"I scarcely see how she can help me," said Nick with an air of thinking.

"She's extremely handsome as I remember her. You could do great things
with _her_."

"Ah, there's the rub," Nick went on. "I wanted her to sit for me this
week, but she wouldn't hear of it."

"_Elle a bien tort_. You should attack some fine strong type. Is Mrs.
Dallow in London?" Nash inquired.

"For what do you take her? She's paying visits."

"Then I've a model for you."

"Then _you_ have--?" Nick stared. "What has that to do with Mrs.
Dallow's being away?"

"Doesn't it give you more time?"

"Oh the time flies!" sighed Nick with a spontaneity that made his
companion again laugh out--a demonstration in which for a moment he
himself