proposition had come to her by letter the
answer might not have been of a different nature.

As soon as he was gone she went upstairs to the nursery, and thence
to Mrs. Fenwick's bedroom. Flo was there, but Flo was soon dismissed.
Mary began her story instantly, before a question could be asked.

"Janet," she said, "I am going home--at once."

"Why so?"

"Because it is best. Nothing more is settled than was settled before.
When he asks me whether he may come again, how can I say that he may
not? What can I say, except that as far I can see now, I cannot be
his wife?"

"You have not accepted him, then?"

"No."

"I believe that you would, if he had asked you last night."

"Most certainly I should not. I may doubt when I am talking behind
his back; but when I meet him face to face I cannot do it."

"I think you have been wrong,--very wrong and very foolish."

"In not taking a man I do not love?" said Mary.

"You do love him; but you are longing for you do not know what; some
romance,--some grand passion,--something that will never come."

"Shall I tell you what I want?"

"If you please."

"A feeling such as you have for Frank. You are my model; I want
nothing beyond that."

"That comes after marriage. Frank was very little to me till we were
man and wife. He'll tell you the same. I don't know whether I didn't
almost dislike him when I married him."

"Oh, Janet!"

"Certainly the sort of love you are thinking of comes
afterwards;--when the interests of two people are the same. Frank was
very well as a lover."

"Don't I remember it?"

"You were a child."

"I was fifteen; and don't I remember how all the world used to change
for you when he was coming? There wasn't a ribbon you wore but you
wore it for him; you dressed yourself in his eyes; you lived by his
thoughts."

"That was all after I was engaged. If you would accept Harry Gilmore,
you would do just the same."

"I must be sure that it would be so. I am now almost sure that it
would not."

"And why do you want to go home?"

"That he may not be pestered by having me near him. I think it will
be better for him that I should go."

"And he is to ask you again?"

"He says that he will--in three months. But you should tell him
that it will be better that he should not. I would advise him to
travel,--if I were his friend, like you."

"And leave all his duties, and his pleasures, and his house, and his
property, because of your face and fig