xpressed the exact reason in words which could
not have been better chosen. Independence, love of freedom, and a very
strong preference for going my own way."

He laughed a little.

"Yes, but you would have all these things a thousand times multiplied if
you were married.

Look at all the restraints and restrictions to which girls are
subjected where married women simply please themselves. Why, you are
absolutely hedged round with conventions. You can scarcely go for a ride
with a man of your acquaintance in broad daylight without endangering
your reputation. What would they say--your cousin and Mrs. Abingdon--if
they knew that you were here with me now? They would hold up their hands
in horror."

The girl's thoughts flashed suddenly to Caryl. How much freedom might
she expect from him?

"It's all very well," she said, with a touch of petulance, "but
easy-going husbands don't grow on every gooseberry-bush. I have never
yet met the man who wouldn't want to arrange my life in every detail if
I married him."

"Yes, you have," said Brandon.

He spoke with deliberate emphasis, and she knew that as he spoke he
looked at her in a manner that there could be no mistaking. Her heart
quickened a little, and she felt the colour rise in her face.

"Do you know that I am engaged to Vivian Caryl?" she said.

"Perfectly," he answered. "I also know that you have not the smallest
intention of marrying him."

She frowned, but did not contradict him.

He continued with considerable assurance:

"He is not the man to make you happy, and I think you know it. My only
wonder is that you didn't realize it earlier--before you became engaged
to him."

"My engagement was only an experiment," she said quickly.

"And therefore easily broken," he rejoined. "Why don't you put a stop to
it?"

She hesitated.

He bent towards her.

"Do you mean to say that he is cad enough to hold you against your
will?"

Still she hesitated, half-afraid to speak openly.

He leant nearer; he took her hand.

"My dear child," he said, "don't for Heaven's sake give in to such
tyranny as that, and be made miserable for the rest of your life. Oh, I
grant you he is the sort of fellow who would make what is called a good
husband, but not the sort of husband you want. He would keep you in
order, shackle you at every turn. Marry him, and it will be good-bye to
liberty--even such liberty as you have now--forever."

Her face had changed. She was very pa