sly object.

"Why now," he burst forth, "if any young lady took to admiring me,
thinking a heap of me and talking about me to her friends, d'ye think
I'd be cut up? I'd be pleased to that extent I'd go about on the broad
grin. I mightn't want to marry just yet; and when I did, I mightn't
_possibly_ take up with her; but I can tell you, as soon as I was
disposed to marry, I'd have a soft side towards her; I'd certainly think
it right to give her the first chance in considering who I'd have. And
that's all I ask of you, Miss White. You won't have anything to do with
me (why, I can't think), but I just give it put that I'm an admirer, and
I hang on, hoping that you'll think better of it."

He was good-natured about it, perfectly open apparently, and at the same
time evidently so confident that his was the sensible view of the matter
that Eliza could only repeat her prohibition less hopefully.

A little later she found that he had quelled a revolt against her
authority that was simmering in the minds of the table-maids. She went
at once to the door that was decorated with the dentist's sign.

It was opened by Harkness in the bowing manner with which he was wont to
open to patients. When he saw Eliza's expression he straightened
himself.

"I want to know what you've been saying to those girls downstairs about
me."

"Well now," said he, a little flustered, "nothing that you'd dislike to
hear."

"Do you think," she went on with calm severity, "that I can't manage my
affairs without your help?"

"By no means." His emphasis implied that he readily perceived which
answer would give least offence. "Same time, if I can make your path
more flowery--fail to see objections to such a course."

"I don't want you to trouble yourself."

"It wasn't the least mite of trouble," he assured her. "Why, those girls
downstairs, whenever I roll my eyes, they just fly to do the thing I
want."

"Do you think that is nice?" asked Eliza.

"Lovely--so convenient!"

"I do not like it."

"It don't follow that whenever they roll their eyes, I do what they
want. Jemima! no. They might roll them, and roll them, and roll them,
right round to the back of their heads; 'twouldn't have an atom of
effect on me."

He waited to see some result from this avowal, but Eliza was looking at
him as coldly as ever.

"In that respect," he added, "there ain't no one that interferes with
your prerogative."

Eliza looked as if he had spoken in a foreig