; she had never been present at any imputation of ability or
power that this term didn't seem to cover. In many a girl so great a
kindness might have been fanned to something of a flame by the breath of
close criticism. I probably exaggerate little the perversity of pretty
girls in saying that our young woman might at this moment have answered
her sister with: "No, I wasn't in love with him, but somehow, since
you're so very disgusted, I foresee that I shall be if he presses
me." It is doubtless difficult to say more for Francie's simplicity of
character than that she felt no need of encouraging Mr. Flack in order
to prove to herself that she wasn't bullied. She didn't care whether
she were bullied or not, and she was perfectly capable of letting Delia
believe her to have carried mildness to the point of giving up a man
she had a secret sentiment for in order to oblige a relative who
fairly brooded with devotion. She wasn't clear herself as to whether it
mightn't be so; her pride, what she had of it, lay in an undistributed
inert form quite at the bottom of her heart, and she had never yet
thought of a dignified theory to cover her want of uppishness. She felt
as she looked up at Mr. Flack that she didn't care even if he should
think she sacrificed him to a childish docility. His bright eyes were
hard, as if he could almost guess how cynical she was, and she turned
her own again toward her retreating companions. "They're going to
dinner; we oughtn't to be dawdling here," she said.

"Well, if they're going to dinner they'll have to eat the napkins.
I ordered it and I know when it'll be ready," George Flack answered.
"Besides, they're not going to dinner, they're going to walk in the
park. Don't you worry, we shan't lose them. I wish we could!" the young
man added in his boldest gayest manner.

"You wish we could?"

"I should like to feel you just under my particular protection and no
other."

"Well, I don't know what the dangers are," said Francie, setting herself
in motion again. She went after the others, but at the end of a few
steps he stopped her again.

"You won't have confidence. I wish you'd believe what I tell you."

"You haven't told me anything." And she turned her back to him, looking
away at the splendid view. "I do love the scenery," she added in a
moment.

"Well, leave it alone a little--it won't run away! I want to tell
you something about myself, if I could flatter myself you'd take any
interest