h an arch smile, shaking her finger at her
nephew, "you are a fallacious reasoner. Do you know what that means? I
can't help laughing still at the trouble I used to have in trying to
find out the meaning of that word fallacious, when I was at Miss
Dullandoor's seminary for young ladies--hi! Hi! Some of us were
excessively _young_ ladies, and we were taught everything by rote,
explanations of meanings of anything being quite ignored by Miss
Dullandoor. Do you remember her sister? Oh! I'm so stupid to forget
that it's exactly thirty years to-day since she died, and you can't be
quite that age yet; besides, even if you were, it would require that you
should have seen, and recognised, and remembered her on her deathbed
about the time of your own birth. Oh! She _was_ so funny, both in face
and figure. One of the older girls made a portrait of her for me which
I have yet. I'll go fetch it; the expression is irresistible--it is
killing. Excuse me a minute."

Miss Pritty rose and tripped--she never walked--from the room. During
much of the previous conversation our hero had been sorely perplexed in
his mind as to his duty in present circumstances. Having been forbidden
to hold any intercourse with Aileen, he questioned the propriety of his
remaining to spend the evening with her, and had made up his mind to
rise and tear himself away when this unlooked-for opportunity for a
_tete-a-tete_ occurred. Being a man of quick wit and strong will, he
did not neglect it. Turning suddenly to the fair girl, he said, in a
voice low and measured--

"Aileen, your father commanded me to have no further intercourse with
you, and he made me aware that he had laid a similar injunction on
yourself. I know full well your true-hearted loyalty to him, and do not
intend to induce you to disobey. I ask you to make no reply to what I
say that is not consistent with your promise to your father. For
myself, common courtesy tells me that I may not leave your presence for
a distant land without saying at least good-bye. Nay, more, I feel that
I break no command in making to you a simple deliberate statement."

Edgar paused for a moment, for, in spite of the powerful restraint put
on himself, and the intended sedateness of his words, his feelings were
almost too strong for him.

"Aileen," he resumed, "I may never see you again. Your father intends
that I shall not. Your looks seem to say that you fear as much. Now,
my heart tells m