t talking now of
anything but THAT. I don't believe but what you've seen a good deal of
new life. You won't pretend they ain't working you right in, charming as
you are."

"Do you mean if they've been kind and sweet to me? They've been very
kind and sweet," Francie mid. "They want to do even more than I'll let
them."

"Ah why won't you let them?" George Flack asked almost coaxingly.

"Well, I do, when it comes to anything," the girl went on. "You can't
resist them really; they've got such lovely ways."

"I should like to hear you talk right out about their ways," her
companion observed after a silence.

"Oh I could talk out right enough if once I were to begin. But I don't
see why it should interest you."

"Don't I care immensely for everything that concerns you? Didn't I tell
you that once?"--he put it very straight.

"Well, you were foolish ever, and you'd be foolish to say it again,"
Francie replied.

"Oh I don't want to say anything, I've had my lesson. But I could
listen to you all day." Francie gave an exclamation of impatience and
incredulity, and Mr. Flack pursued: "Don't you remember what you told me
that time we had that talk at Saint-Germain, on the terrace? You said I
might remain your friend."

"Well, that's all right," said the girl.

"Then ain't we interested in the development of our friends--in their
impressions, their situations and adventures? Especially a person like
me, who has got to know life whether he wants to or no--who has got to
know the world."

"Do you mean to say I could teach you about life?" Francie beautifully
gaped.

"About some kinds certainly. You know a lot of people it's difficult to
get at unless one takes some extraordinary measures, as you've done."

"What do you mean? What measures have I done?"

"Well, THEY have--to get right hold of you--and its the same thing.
Pouncing on you, to secure you first--I call that energetic, and don't
you think I ought to know?" smiled Mr. Flack with much meaning. "I
thought _I_ was energetic, but they got in ahead of me. They're a
society apart, and they must be very curious."

"Yes, they're very curious," Francie admitted with a resigned sigh. Then
she said: "Do you want to put them in the paper?"

George Flack cast about--the air of the question was so candid,
suggested so complete an exemption From prejudice. "Oh I'm very careful
about what I put in the paper. I want everything, as I told you; Don't
you remember the sket