t say that,' he interposed in an almost angry tone. 'You
can't, and don't, think that either of him or of me.'

'No, I don't; I could not think it of _you_--and no, I could not think
it of him either. But you must admit that he has acted rather oddly.'

'And I too, I suppose?'

'Oh, you--well, of course, you were naturally thinking of the interest,
or, at least, the momentary wishes, of your friend.'

'Of my two friends--you are my friend. Did we not swear an eternal
friendship the other night?'

'Now you _are_ jesting.'

'I am not; I am profoundly serious. I thought perhaps this might be for
the happiness of both.'

'Did you ever see anything in me which seemed to make such an idea
likely?'

'You see, I have known you but for so short a time.'

'People who are worth knowing at all are known at once or never known,'
she said promptly and very dogmatically.

'Young ladies do not wear their hearts upon their sleeves.'

'I am afraid I do sometimes--too much,' she said.

'I thought it at least possible.'

'Now you _know_. Well, are you going to ask me to marry your friend Mr.
Hamilton?'

'No, indeed, Miss Langley. That would be a cruel injustice and wrong to
him and to you. He must marry someone who loves him; you must marry
someone whom you love. I am sorry for my poor friend--this will hurt
him. But he cannot blame you, and I cannot blame you. He has some
comfort--he has Gloria to fight for some day.'

'Put it nicely--_very_ nicely to him,' Helena said, softening now that
all was over. 'Tell him--won't you?--that I am ever so fond of him; and
tell him that this must not make the least difference in our friendship.
No one shall ever know from me.'

'I will put it all as well as I can,' said the Dictator; 'but I am
afraid it must make a difference to him. It made a difference to
me--when I was a young man of about his age.'

'You were disappointed?' Helena asked, in rather tremulous tone.

'More than that; I think I was deceived. I was ever so much worse off
than Hamilton, for there was bitterness in my story, and there can be
none in his. But I have survived--as you see.'

'Is--she--still living?'

'Oh, yes; she married for money and rank, and has got both, and I
believe she is perfectly happy.'

'And have you recovered--quite?'

'Quite; I fancy it must have been an unreal sort of thing altogether. My
wound is quite healed--does not give me even a passing moment of pain,
as very old wounds some