n
from you! No indeed; not that. Jack felt all this,--felt that he could
not preach without laying himself open to ridicule. When the time came
he made up his mind that he must go. Of course it was very bad for her.
The servants would all know it. Everybody would know it. She was
throwing away every chance she had of doing well for herself. But what
was he to do? She told him that he would be a coward, and he at any
rate could not bear that.

Mr. Mildmay lived in a small house in Green Street, very near the Park,
but still a modest, unassuming, cheap little house. Jack De Baron knew
the way to it well, and was there not above a quarter-of-an-hour after
the appointed time. "So aunt Ju has gone to the Rights of Women, has
she?" he said, after his first greeting. He might have kissed her if he
would, but he didn't. He had made up his mind about that. And so had
she. She was ready for him, whether he should kiss her or not,--ready
to accept either greeting, as though it was just that which she had
expected.

"Oh, yes; she is going to make a speech herself."

"But why do they give prizes to young men?"

"Because the young men have stood up for the old women. Why don't you
go and get a prize?"

"I had to be here instead."

"Had to be here, sir!"

"Yes, Guss; had to be here! Isn't that about it? When you tell me to
come, and tell me that I am a coward if I don't come, of course I am
here."

"And now you are here, what have you got to say for yourself?" This she
attempted to say easily and jauntily.

"Not a word."

"Then I don't see what is the use of coming?"

"Nor I, either. What would you have me say?"

"I would have you,--I would have you----" And then there was something
like a sob. It was quite real. "I would have you tell me--that
you--love me."

"Have I not told you so a score of times; and what has come of it?"

"But is it true?"

"Come, Guss, this is simple folly. You know it is true; and you know,
also, that there is no good whatever to be got from such truth."

"If you loved me, you would like--to--see me."

"No, I shouldn't;--no, I don't;--unless it could lead to something.
There was a little fun to be had when we could spoon together,--when I
hardly knew how to ask for it, and you hardly knew how to grant it;
when it was a little shooting bud, and had to be nursed by smiles and
pretty speeches. But there are only three things it can come to now.
Two are impossible, and therefore there is th