believe I generally adopt
the goddess theory. In honest truth, most women do seem to me a sort of
goddesses."

"You will not be long in England without unlearning that theory," Miss
Grey said. "Our writers seem to have hardly any subject now but the
faults and follies of women. One might sometimes think that woman was a
newly-discovered creature that the world could never be done wondering
at."

"Yes, yes; I read a good deal of that sort of thing out in the
colonies. But I have retained the goddess theory, so far at least. Mrs.
Money seems to me a sort of divinity. Miss Money is a born saint; she
ought to go about with a gilt plate round her head. Miss Lucy Money
seems like a little angel of light. Are you smiling again? I do assure
you these are my real feelings."

"I was not smiling at the idea, but only at the difference between it
and the favorite ideas of most people at present, even of women about
women."

"May I walk a little with you," Mr. Heron said, "or will you sit and
rest here, if you are tired, and we will talk? Don't stand on formality
and send me away, although I will go if you like, and not feel in the
least offended. But if we might talk for a little, it would give me
great pleasure. You said just now that you did not wish to be selfish.
It will be very unselfish and very kind if you will let me talk to you
a little. I felt very wretched when you came up--quite in a suicidal
frame of mind."

"Oh, no! Pray don't speak in that way. You do not mean it I am sure."

"In one sense I do mean it--that is, it is quite true that I should not
have thrown myself into the water or blown my brains out; that sort of
thing seems to me like abandoning one's post without orders from
headquarters. But I felt in the condition of mind when one can quite
understand how such things are done, and would be glad if he were free
to follow the example. For _me_ that is a great change in itself," the
young man added with some bitterness.

"What can I do for him?" Miss Grey asked herself mentally. "Nothing but
to show him the view from the canal bridge. There is nothing else in my
power."

"There is a very pretty view a short distance from this," she said; "a
view from a bridge, and I am particularly fond of looking from bridges.
Should you like to walk there?"

"I should like to walk anywhere with you," Victor Heron said, with a
look of genuine gratefulness, which had not the faintest breath of
compliment in it, and c