y spirit, because it
was evident to all that his intentions were serious. But she could not
hinder wayward Ephie from making a shameless use of him, and then
laughing at him behind his back--a laugh in which Mrs. Cayhill was not
always able to refrain from joining, though it must be said that she
was usually loud in her praises of Dove, at the expense of all visitors
who were not American.

"From these Dutch you can't expect much, one way or the other," she
declared. "And young Guest sometimes sits there with a face as long as
my arm. But Dove is really a most sensible young fellow--why, he thinks
just as I do about Arnerica."

And as a special mark of favour, when Dove left the house on Sunday
afternoon, his pockets bulged with NEW YORK HERALDS.

VII.

Meanwhile, before the blinds in the BRUDERSTRASSE were drawn up again,
Maurice had found his way back to Madeleine. When they met, she smiled
at him in a somewhat sarcastic manner, but no reference was made to the
little falling-out they had had, and they began afresh to read and play
together. On the first afternoon, Maurice was full of his new friends,
and described them at length to her. But Madeleine damped his ardour.

"I know them, yes, of course," she said. "The usual Americans--even the
blue-stocking, from whom heaven defend us. The little one is pretty
enough as long as she keeps her mouth shut. But the moment she speaks,
every illusion is shattered.--Why I don't go there on a Sunday? Good
gracious, do you think they want me?--me, or any other petticoat? Are
honours made to be divided?--No, Maurice, I don't like Americans. I was
once offered a position in America, as 'professor of piano and
voice-production' in a place called Schenectady; but I didn't hesitate.
I said to myself, better one hundred a year in good old England, than
five in a country where the population is so inflated with its
importance that I should always be in danger of running amuck. And
besides that, I should lose my accent, and forget how to say 'leg';
while the workings of the stomach would be discussed before me with an
unpleasant freedom."

"You're too hard on them, Madeleine," said Maurice, smiling in spite of
himself. But he was beginning to stand in awe of her sharp tongue and
decided opinions; and, in the week that followed, he took himself
resolutely together, and did not let a certain name cross his lips.

Consequently, he was more than surprised on returning to his