rate clever
people to make use of him.

One morning Harry had heard unexpectedly that he had sold a picture--a
thing that rarely happened--and was looking at the cheque he had
received, when Van Buren came into the studio. Harry told the news.

"Well, Harry, I do congratulate you, with all my heart! What are you
going to do with that?"

"Frame it," said Harry. "It's the only one I've had for three years.
It's a curiosity."

The American laughed.

"Harry, I guess what you're really going to do--you're going to give
yourself the humble joy of paying some of the more pressing liabilities.
I know you!"

"My dear fellow, that would be mad extravagance! Oh no. You see, this
cheque is--just enough to be no earthly use."

Van Buren sat down.

"Harry, if you'd only let me.... But I know that vexes you, so I won't
talk of it. You're Quixotic, that's what's the matter with you." He
smiled, pleased with the word. "Yes, Quixotic! I want to speak to you
about your cousin--I mean Miss Daphne, the beauteous broo-nette."

"Well, how do you think you're getting on?" asked Harry, who already
knew from Valentia that it was hopeless.

"Not as well as I should like, Harry. I can't say I feel I'm making any
very great progress. She's a dream, but I'm afraid she regards me as a
heavy-weight. She's only a child, really, I know. She would prefer a
little boy of her own age who would make her laugh. Maybe she thinks I'm
too old. What do you say?"

"You must give her time."

"I pay her every little attention that I can," said Van Buren seriously.

"Perhaps you're too attentive."

"I'd give her anything in the world she wanted, Harry, if she'd let me."

"Well, give her a miss for safety."

"What's that?"

"Why--this evening you're going to meet her at a dance, aren't you--at
the Walmers'?"

"Yes; I'm looking forward to that."

"Well, don't go--don't turn up. Then she'll miss you. Say, to-morrow,
you were prevented."

Van Buren began to smile.

"I see what you mean. It's an idea. You do hand me some good advice! Is
it what you would do yourself, Harry?"

"It's what I'm always doing."

"But then I don't like the idea of being rude. One always wants to give
the impression of being well-bred, no matter what the facts maybe."

"It won't be rude. She'll be thinking about you much more than if you
were there, wondering why you're not."

"You mean it will keep her guessing, Harry?"

"That's the idea. I shan't say you're