r point.

'Your staircase set me wondering about _you_,' she said boldly, not
answering his speech at all.

'In yet another connection?' said Pitt, smiling.

'In another connection. You remember you used to talk to me pretty
freely last summer about your new views and plans of life?'

'I remember. But my staircase?'--

'Yes, your staircase. You know it is rich and stately, as well as
beautiful. Whatever it signifies to you, to my lower vision it means a
position in the world and the means to maintain it. And I debated with
myself, as I went up the stairs, whether the owner of all this would
_still_ think it his duty to live altogether for others, and not for
himself like common people.'

She looked at him, and Pitt met her inquiring eyes with a steady,
penetrating, grave look, which half made her wish she had let the
question alone. He delayed his answer a little, and then he said,--

'Will you let me meet that doubt in my own way?'

'Certainly!' said Betty, surprised; 'if you will forgive me its
arising.'

'Is one responsible for doubts? One _may_ be responsible for the state
of mind from which they spring. Then, if you will allow me, I will say
no more on the subject for a day or two. But I will not leave you
unanswered; that is, unless you refuse to submit to my guidance, and
will not let me take my own way.'

'You are mysterious!'

'Will you go with me when I ask you?'

'Yes.'

'Then that is sufficient.'

Betty thought she had not gained much by her move.

The next day was given to the Tower. Mrs. Dallas did not go; her
husband was of the party instead. The inspection of the place was
thorough, and occupied some hours; Pitt, being able, through an old
friend of Mr. Strahan's who was now also _his_ friend, to obtain an
order from the Constable for seeing the whole. At dinner Betty
delivered herself of her opinion.

'Were you busy all day with nothing but the Tower? asked Mrs. Dallas.

'Stopped for luncheon,' said her husband.

'And we did our work thoroughly, mamma,' added Pitt. 'You must take
time, if you want to see anything.'

'Well,' said Betty, 'I must say, if this is what it means, to live in
an old country, I am thankful I live in a new one.'

'What now?' asked Mr. Dallas. 'What's the matter?'

'Mrs. Dallas was wiser, that she did not go,' Betty went on. '"I have
supped fall of horrors." Really I have read history, but that gives it
to one diluted. I had no notion that the English p