"But if you are satisfied--"

"She will have to resign herself? Well, perhaps. But why do you wish me
to be serious about Boyne?"

"I have no doubt he amuses you. But that doesn't seem a very good reason
why you should amuse yourself with him."

"No? Why not?"

"Well, because the poor boy is in earnest; and you're not
exactly--contemporaries."

"Why, how old is Boyne?" she asked, with affected surprise.

"About fifteen, I think," said Breckon, gravely.

"And I'm but a very few months past thirty. I don't see the great
disparity. But he is merely a brother to me--an elder brother--and he
gives me the best kind of advice."

"I dare say you need it, but all the same, I am afraid you are putting
ideas into his head."

"Well, if he began it? If he put them in mine first?"

She was evidently willing that he should go further, and create the
common ground between them that grows up when one gives a reproof and
the other accepts it; but Breckon, whether he thought that he had now
done his duty, and need say no more, or because he was vexed with her,
left the subject.

"Mrs. Rasmith says you are going to Switzerland for the rest of the
summer."

"Yes, to Montreux. Are you going to spend it in Paris?"

"I'm going to Paris to see. I have had some thoughts of Etretat; I have
cousins there."

"I wish that I could go to the sea-side. But this happens to be one of
the summers when nothing but mountains can save my mother's life. Shall
you get down to Rome before you go back?"

"I don't know. If I sail from Naples I shall probably pass through
Rome."

"You had better stop off. We shall be there in November, and they
say Rome is worth seeing," she laughed demurely. "That is what Boyne
understands. He's promised to use his influence with his family to let
him run down to see us there, if he can't get them all to come. You
might offer to personally conduct them."

"Yes." said Breckon, with the effect of cloture. "Have you made many
acquaintances an board?"

"What! Two lone women? You haven't introduced us to any but the Kentons.
But I dare say they are the best. The judge is a dear, and Mrs. Kenton
is everything that is motherly and matronly. Boyne says she is very well
informed, and knows all about the reigning families. If he decides
to marry into them, she can be of great use in saving him from a
mesalliance. I can't say very much for Miss Lottie. Miss Lottie seems to
me distinctly of the minx type. But that