distance, by honour, by conscience, and nobility. Does the law
require patriotism, philanthropy, self-abnegation, public service,
purity of purpose, devotion to the needs of others who have been
placed in the world below you? The law is a great thing,--because men
are poor and weak, and bad. And it is great, because where it exists
in its strength, no tyrant can be above it. But between you and me
there should be no mention of law as the guide of conduct. Speak to
me of honour, of duty, and of nobility; and tell me what they require
of you."

Silverbridge listened in silence and with something of true
admiration in his heart. But he felt the strong necessity of
declaring his own convictions on one special point here, at once,
in this new crisis of the conversation. That accident in regard to
the colour of the Dean's lodge had stood in the way of his logical
studies,--so that he was unable to put his argument into proper
shape; but there belonged to him a certain natural astuteness which
told him that he must put in his rejoinder at this particular point.
"I think I am bound in honour and in duty to marry Miss Boncassen,"
he said. "And, if I understand what you mean, by nobility just as
much."

"Because you have promised."

"Not only for that. I have promised and therefore I am bound. She
has--well, she has said that she loves me, and therefore of course I
am bound. But it is not only that."

"What do you mean?"

"I suppose a man ought to marry the woman he loves,--if he can get
her."

"No; no; not so; not always so. Do you think that love is a passion
that cannot be withstood?"

"But here we are both of one mind, sir. When I saw how you seemed to
take to her--"

"Take to her! Can I not interest myself in human beings without
wishing to make them flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone? What am
I to think of you? It was but the other day that all that you are
now telling me of Miss Boncassen, you were telling me of Lady Mabel
Grex." Here poor Silverbridge bit his lips and shook his head, and
looked down upon the ground. This was the weak part of his case. He
could not tell his father the whole story about Mabel,--that she had
coyed his love, so that he had been justified in thinking himself
free from any claim in that direction when he had encountered the
infinitely sweeter charms of Isabel Boncassen. "You are weak as
water," said the unhappy father.

"I am not weak in this."

"Did you not say exactly the sa