ing. But even had she been going to the end
of the world with her husband next week, Elinor would still have been
happy to-day. The sunshine itself was enough to go to any one's head,
and the pony stepped out so that Phil had the grace to be ashamed of his
reflections upon "the old girl." They got to the station too early for
the train, and had half an hour's stroll together, with all the railway
porters looking on admiring. They all knew Miss Dennistoun from her
childhood, and they were interested in her "young man."

"And to think you will be in Ireland to-morrow," said Elinor, "over the
sea, with the Channel between us--in another island!"

"I don't see much that's wonderful in that," said Phil, "the boat goes
every day."

"Oh, there's nothing wonderful about the boat. Hundreds might go, and I
shouldn't mind, but you---- It's strange to think of your going off into
a world I don't know at all--and then coming back."

"To take you off to that world you don't know, Nell; and then the time
will come when you will know it as well as I do, and more, too; and be
able to set me down in my proper place."

"What is your proper place? Your place will always be the same. Phil,
you've been so good to me this time; you've made everybody like you so.
Mamma--that's the best of all. She was a little--I can't say jealous,
that is not the right word, but uncertain and frightened--which just
means that she did not know you, Phil; now you've condescended to let
yourself be known."

"Have I, Nell? I've had more luck than meaning if that's so."

"'Tis that you've condescended to let yourself be known. A man has such
odious pride. He likes to show himself all on the wrong side, to brave
people's opinions--as if it was better to be liked for the badness in
you than for the goodness in you!"

"What's the goodness in me, Nell? I'd like to know, and then I can have
it ready in other emergencies and serve it out as it is wanted."

"Oh, Phil! the goodness in you is--yourself. You can't help being nice
when you throw off those society airs. When you are talking with
Mariamne and all that set of people----"

"Why can't you call her Jew? life is too short to say all those
syllables."

"I don't like you to call her Jew. It's unkind. I don't think she
deserves it. It's a sort of an insult."

"Shut up, Nell. It's her name and that's enough. Mar-ry-am-ne! It's a
beast of a name to begin with. And do you think any of us has got time
to sa