t least was what I meant. Certainly she is unlike our too ignorant
demoiselles; but contrast with the familiar may have its peril. It is
quite another type from our young women at home, and attractive enough
in its way--in its bourgeois way."

He smiled. "I am quite too busy to concern myself with young women." In
fact he had begun to find interest in a little study of this new type.
"Yes, quite too busy."

"That is as well." But she was not at ease. On the whole, she thought it
would be proper now for him to go to Mrs. Bingham's and to the
President's receptions. Miss Wynne would see that he had the entree. He
was too occupied, he said once more, and his clothes were quite unfit.
Neither was he inclined yet awhile. And so he rode away to town with
several things to think about, and on Thursday the vicomtesse made clear
to the well-pleased Mrs. Swanwick that she was glad of the quiet and the
English lessons and the crisp talk of Schmidt, who spoke French, but not
fluently, and concerning whom she was mildly jealous and, for her,
curious. "Schmidt, my son? No; a name disguised. He is a gentleman to
his finger-ends, but surely a strange one."

"It is enough, _maman_, that he is my friend. Often I, too, am curious;
but--ah, well, I wonder why he likes me; but he does, and I am glad of
it."

"You wonder. I do not," and she smiled.

"Ah, the vain _maman!_" he cried. It was very rare that she praised him,
and she was by long habit given to no demonstrations of affection.

Two weeks ran on in the quiet routine of the Quaker home and the
increasing work of the great shipping merchant. De Courval was more and
more used by Wynne in matters other than copying letters in French.
Sometimes, too, he was trusted with business affairs demanding judgment,
and although Wynne spoke no word of praise, neither was there any word
of censure, and he watched the clerk with interest and growing regard.
Twice he sent him to New York, and once on an errand to Baltimore,
where he successfully collected some long-standing debts. A new clerk
had come, and De Courval, to his relief, was no longer expected to sweep
out the counting-house.

By degrees Wynne fully realized that he had found a helper of unusual
capacity, and more and more, as the great and varied business attracted
De Courval, he was taken into Wynne's confidence, and saw the ships come
and go, and longed to share the peril and see the wonders of the ocean.
There were great tuns