arted, sensible boy. I thought it would be pleasant, and even
elevating--to you--while it lasted, and that you'd soon see how--how
ineligible--indeed I did!" Both were silent.

"Fannie Halliday," said John at last, standing before her as slim and
rank as a sapling, but in the dignity of injured trust, "when year after
year you saw I loved you, why did you still play me false!"

"Now, Mr. March, you're cruel."

"Miss Fannie Halliday, have you been kind?"

"I meant to be! I never meant to cheat you! I kept hoping you'd
understand! Sometimes I tried to make you understand, didn't I? I'm very
sorry, John. I know I've done wrong. But I--I meant well. I really did!"

The youth waved an arm. "You've wrecked my life. Oh, Fannie, I'm no mere
sentimentalist. I can say in perfect command of these wild emotions,
'Enchantress, fare thee well!'"

"Oh, fare thee fiddlesticks!" Fannie rose abruptly. "No, no, I didn't
mean that, John, but--aw! now, I didn't _mean_ to smile! Oh, let's
forget the past--oh! now, yes, you can! Let's just be simple, true
friends! And one of these days you'll love some sweet, true girl, and
she'll love you and I'll love her, and--" she took his arm. He looked
down on her.

"_I_ love again!--_I_--? Ah! how little you women understand men! Oh,
Fannie! to love twice is never to have loved. You are my first--my
last!"

"Oh, no, I'm not," said Fannie, blithely and aloud, as they reentered
the room. Then softly, behind her fan, "I've a better one in store for
you, now!"

"Two!" groaned the bass viol and bassoon. "Two! two! two-to-to-two!" and
with a propitiative smile on John's open anguish, Fannie, gayer in
speech and readier in laughter, but not lighter in heart, let a partner
waltz her away. As John turned, one of his committee seized his arm and
showed a watch.

XIX.

MR. RAVENEL SHOWS A "MORE EXCELLENT WAY"

Urged by all sorts and on all sides, the Northerners lingered a day or
two more, visiting battle-fields and things. At Turkey Creek Halliday
was talkative, Garnet overflowed with information, Captains Champion and
Shotwell were boyish, and Colonel Proudfit got tight. They ate cold
fried chicken and drank--

"Whew!--stop, stop!--I can't take--Why, half that would"--etc.

"Where's Mr. Ravenel?"

"Who, Jeff-Jack? Oh, he's over yonder pickin' blackberries--no, he
seldom ever touches--he has to be careful how he--Yes, sometimes he
disremembers."

In town again, Halliday led the way