n caught
it in his own and pressed it hard.

"Surely you are not surprised, Sir?" he added with eagerness. "How can I
help loving her! She is the best and loveliest girl I have ever seen!
Believe me,--I would make her happy!"

"And have you thought, young man," returned Gueldmar slowly, "that you
would make me desolate?--or, thinking it, have you cared?"

There was an infinite pathos in his voice, and Errington was touched and
silent. He found no answer to this reproach. Gueldmar sat down, leaning
his head on his hand.

"Let me think a little," he said. "My mind is confused a bit. I was not
prepared for--"

He paused and seemed lost in sorrowful meditation. By-and-by he looked
up, and meeting Errington's anxious gaze, he broke into a short laugh.

"Don't mind me, my lad!" he said sturdily. "'Tis a blow, you see! I had
not thought so far as this. I'll tell you the plain truth, and you must
forgive me for wronging you. I know what young blood is, all the world
over. A fair face fires it--and impulse makes it gallop beyond control.
'Twas so with me when I was your age,--though no woman, I hope, was ever
the worse for my harmless lovemaking. But Thelma is different from most
women,--she has a strange nature,--moreover, she has a heart and a
memory,--if she once learns the meaning of love, she will never unlearn
the lesson. Now, I thought, that like most young men of your type, you
might, without meaning any actual evil, trifle with her--play with her
feelings--"

"I understand, Sir," said Philip coolly, without displaying any offense.
"To put it plainly, in spite of your liking for me, you thought me a
snob."

This time the old man laughed heartily and unforcedly.

"Dear, dear!" he exclaimed. "You are what is termed in your own land, a
peppery customer! Never mind--I like it. Why, my lad, the men of to-day
think it fair sport to trifle with a pretty woman now and then--"

"Pardon!" interrupted Philip curtly. "I must defend my sex. We _may_
occasionally trifle with those women who show us that they wish to be
trifled with--but never with those who, like your daughter, win every
man's respect and reverence."

Gueldmar rose and grasped his hand fervently.

"By all the gods, I believe you are a true gentleman!" he said. "I ask
your pardon if I have offended you by so much as a thought. But
now"--and his face grew very serious--"we must talk this matter over. I
will not speak of the suddenness of your love for my