o the same. But I
cannot. A jackal is born a jackal, and not a lion, and cannot help
himself. So is a woman born--a woman. They are clinging, parasite
things, which cannot but adhere; though they destroy themselves by
adhering. Do not suppose that I take a pride in it. I would give one
of my eyes to be able to disregard him."

"Time will do it."

"Yes; time,--that brings wrinkles and rouge-pots and rheumatism.
Though I have so hated those men as to be unable to endure them,
still I want some man's house, and his name,--some man's bread
and wine,--some man's jewels and titles and woods and parks and
gardens,--if I can get them. Time can help a man in his sorrow. If he
begins at forty to make speeches, or to win races, or to breed oxen,
he can yet live a prosperous life. Time is but a poor consoler for a
young woman who has to be married."

"Oh, Mabel."

"And now let there be not a word more about it. I know--that I can
trust you."

"Indeed you may."

"Though you will tell her everything else you will not tell her
this."

"No;--not this."

"And surely you will not tell your sister!"

"I shall tell no one."

"It is because you are so true that I have dared to trust you. I had
to justify myself,--and then to confess. Had I at that one moment
taken you at your word, you would never have known anything of all
this. 'There is a tide in the affairs of men--!' But I let the flood
go by! I shall not see you again now before you are married; but come
to me afterwards."

CHAPTER LXXIV

"Let Us Drink a Glass of Wine Together"

Silverbridge pondered it all much as he went home. What a terrible
story was that he had heard! The horror to him was chiefly in
this,--that she should yet be driven to marry some man without even
fancying that she could love him! And this was Lady Mabel Grex, who,
on his own first entrance into London life, now not much more than
twelve months ago, had seemed to him to stand above all other girls
in beauty, charm, and popularity!

As he opened the door of the house with his latch-key, who should be
coming out but Frank Tregear,--Frank Tregear with his arm in a sling,
but still with an unmistakable look of general satisfaction. "When on
earth did you come up?" asked Silverbridge. Tregear told him that he
had arrived on the previous evening from Harrington. "And why? The
doctor would not have let you come if he could have helped it."

"When he found he could not help it, he did le