pertinences of
those who ridicule these marriages. I think there is something actually
touching in the watchful care and solicitude of a youthful husband for
the venerable object of his affections."

"Well, you shall not point the moral by my case, I promise you," said
Mark, angrily.

"That sublime spectacle that the gods are said to love--a great man
struggling with adversity--is so beautifully depicted in these unions."

"Then why not--" He was going to say, "Why not marry her yourself?" but
the fear of taking such a liberty with his distinguished friend just
caught him in time and stopped him.

"I 'll tell you why not," said Maitland, replying to the unuttered
question. "If you have ever dined at a civic _fete_ you 'll have
remarked that there is some one dish or other the most gluttonous
alderman will suffer to pass untasted,--a sort of sacrifice offered to
public opinion. And so it is, an intensely worldly man, as people are
polite enough to regard me, must show, every now and then, that there
are temptations which he is able to resist. Marrying for money is one of
these. I might speculate in a bubble company, I might traffic in cotton
shares, or even 'walk into' my best friend al faro, but I mustn't marry
for money,--that's positive."

"But apparently _I_ might," said Mark, sulkily.

"You might," replied Maitland, with calm dignity of manner.

"It is a privilege of which I do not mean to avail myself," said Mark,
while his face was flushed with temper. "Do you know that your friends
the Grahams are here?"

"Yes; I caught a glimpse of the fair Rebecca slipping sideways through
life on a jaunting-car."

"And there's the old Commodore tramping over the house, and worrying
every one with his complaints that you have turned him out of his rooms
here,--rooms dedicated to his comfort for the last thirty years."

"Reason enough to surrender them now. Men quit even the Treasury benches
to give the Opposition a turn of office."

"He 's a quarrelsome old blade, too," said Mark, "particularly if he
suspects he's been 'put upon.'"

"No blame to him for that."

"A word or two, said as you well know how to say it, will set all right;
or a line, perhaps, saying that having accidentally heard from me--"

"No, no, Mark. Written excuses are like undated acceptances, and they
may be presented unexpectedly to you years after you 've forgotten them.
I 'll tell the Commodore that I shall not inconvenience him beyond a d