y, and presenting a remarkable contrast
to the disdainful repose of Gertrude."

"Gertrude! I like your cheek."

"You mean that you dislike my presumption."

"No, I think cheek a more expressive word than presumption; and I mean
that I like it--that it amuses me."

"Really! What are you reading?"

"Rubbish, you said just now. A novel."

"That is, a lying story of two people who never existed, and who would
have acted very differently if they had existed."

"Just so."

"Could you not imagine something just as amusing for yourself?"

"Perhaps so; but it would be too much trouble. Besides, cooking takes
away one's appetite for eating. I should not relish stories of my own
confection."

"Which volume are you at?"

"The third."

"Then the hero and heroine are on the point of being united?"

"I really don't know. This is one of your clever novels. I wish the
characters would not talk so much."

"No matter. Two of them are in love with one another, are they not?"

"Yes. It would not be a novel without that."

"Do you believe, in your secret soul, Agatha--I take the liberty of
using your Christian name because I wish to be very solemn--do you
really believe that any human being was ever unselfish enough to love
another in the story-book fashion?"

"Of course. At least I suppose so. I have never thought much about it."

"I doubt it. My own belief is that no latter-day man has any faith in
the thoroughness or permanence of his affection for his mate. Yet he
does not doubt the sincerity of her professions, and he conceals the
hollowness of his own from her, partly because he is ashamed of it,
and partly out of pity for her. And she, on the other side, is playing
exactly the same comedy."

"I believe that is what men do, but not women."

"Indeed! Pray do you remember pretending to be very much in love with me
once when--"

Agatha reddened and placed her palm on the step as if about to spring
up. But she checked herself and said: "Stop, Mr. Trefusis. If you talk
about that I shall go away. I wonder at you! Have you no taste?',

"None whatever. And as I was the aggrieved party on that--stay, don't
go. I will never allude to it again. I am growing afraid of you. You
used to be afraid of me."

"Yes; and you used to bully me. You have a habit of bullying women who
are weak enough to fear you. You are a great deal cleverer than I, and
know much more, I dare say; but I am not in the least afraid of you
now."