kfast or lunch?"

"Neither, thank you."

"Of course you'll stay to dinner?"

"No, indeed. I've a man there at the Cottage with me who would cut
his throat in his solitude."

"Let him cut his throat;--but never mind now. As for being happy,
women are never happy without men. I needn't tell any lies to you,
you know. What makes me sure that this fuss about making men and
women all the same must be wrong, is just the fact that men can get
along without women, and women can't without men. My life has been a
burthen to me. But never mind. Tell me about my lord;--my lord and
master."

"Lord Fawn?"

"Who else? What other lord and master? My bosom's own; my heart's
best hope; my spot of terra firma; my cool running brook of fresh
water; my rock; my love; my lord; my all! Is he always thinking of
his absent Lizzie? Does he still toil at Downing Street? Oh, dear; do
you remember, Frank, when he told us that 'one of us must remain in
town?'"

"I have seen him."

"So you wrote me word."

"And I have seen a very obstinate, pig-headed, but nevertheless
honest and truth-speaking gentleman."

"Frank, I don't care twopence for his honesty and truth. If he
ill-treats me--" Then she paused; looking into his face she had seen
at once by the manner in which he had taken her badinage, without a
smile, that it was necessary that she should be serious as to her
matrimonial prospects. "I suppose I had better let you tell your
story," she said, "and I will sit still and listen."

"He means to ill-treat you."

"And you will let him?"

"You had better listen, as you promised, Lizzie. He declares that the
marriage must be off at once unless you will send those diamonds to
Mr. Camperdown or to the jewellers."

"And by what law or rule does he justify himself in a decision so
monstrous? Is he prepared to prove that the property is not my own?"

"If you ask me my opinion as a lawyer, I doubt whether any such proof
can be shown. But as a man and a friend I do advise you to give them
up."

"Never!"

"You must, of course, judge for yourself;--but that is my advice. You
had better, however, hear my whole story."

"Certainly," said Lizzie. Her whole manner was now changed. She had
extricated herself from the crouching position in which her feet, her
curl, her arms, her whole body had been so arranged as to combine the
charm of her beauty with the charm of proffered intimacy. Her dress
was such as a woman would wear to receive her