e n't advanced so rapidly as I used
to think you would; you haven't distinguished yourself so much," she
went on, irrelevantly.

"I shall be promoted commodore one of these days," Benyon answered.
"You don't know much about it, for my advancement has already been very
exceptionally rapid." He blushed as soon as the words were out of his
mouth. She gave a light laugh on seeing it; but he took up his hat and
added: "Think over a day or two what I have proposed to you. Think of
the temper in which I ask it."

"The temper?" she stared. "Pray, what have you to do with temper?" And
as he made no reply, smoothing his hat with his glove, she went on:
"Years ago, as much as you please I you had a good right, I don't deny,
and you raved, in your letters, to your heart's content That's why
I would n't see you; I did n't wish to take it full in the face. But
that's all over now, time is a healer, you have cooled off, and by your
own admission you have consoled yourself. Why do you talk to me about
temper! What in the world have I done to you, but let you alone?"

"What do you call this business?" Benyon asked, with his eye flashing
all over the room.

"Ah, excuse me, that doesn't touch you,--it's my affair. I leave you
your liberty, and I can live as I like. If I choose to live in this way,
it may be queer (I admit it is, awfully), but you have nothing to say
to it. If I am willing to take the risk, you may be. If I am willing to
play such an infernal trick upon a confiding gentleman (I will put it as
strongly as you possibly could), I don't see what you have to say to it
except that you are tremendously glad such a woman as that is n't known
to be your wife!" She had been cool and deliberate up to this time; but
with these words her latent agitation broke out "Do you think I have
been happy? Do you think I have enjoyed existence? Do you see me
freezing up into a stark old maid?"

"I wonder you stood out so long!" said Benyon.

"I wonder I did. They were bad years."

"I have no doubt they were!"

"You could do as you pleased," Georgina went on. "You roamed about the
world; you formed charming relations. I am delighted to hear it from
your own lips. Think of my going back to my father's house--that family
vault--and living there, year after year, as Miss Gressie! If you
remember my father and mother--they are round in Twelfth Street, just
the same--you must admit that I paid for my folly!"

"I have never understood you; I