with a sort of smile on his face.

"Well, old fellow," said I after a time, "don't waste all that pleasant
material for dreams on yourself."

He rose, stretched himself, and laughed in his soft, pleasant way. "I've
got three hours' hard work before me," he remarked, "and I had better go
at it at once."

"Where have you been?" asked Harry dryly.

"With Georgy," Jack answered unsuspiciously.--"Boys, I warn you against
being engaged while you have a demand for brains. I should like to dawdle
here before the fire until morning thinking of her."

"Spare me!" exclaimed Harry cynically. "I have heard enough praise of Miss
Georgy for one evening. Ted Hutchinson was talking about her." And with a
burst of wrath he went on, retailing the gossip of the night: Ted knew
nothing of her engagement, and was wild about her--had sent her a bracelet
anonymously, and been thrilled with delight when she showed it to him on
her white arm, wondering who could have been so kind. Thorpe too had
collected various items of news about her. There was old Blake, a
widower--who ought to have known better, for he had three grown-up
children--sending her bouquets, driving her about the country and getting
boxes at the theatre. There was Bob Anderson, who had laid a wager that he
would--

"Stop, Harry," said Jack, his kind face very sober. "I do not think you
remember that you are talking to the man who has the honor to be engaged
to Miss Lenox."

"I think the man who does her that honor ought to know the talk prevalent
among the fellows who meet her night after night and visit her day after
day."

"It is a woman's misfortune that the men who are most at leisure to seek
her society are apt to be those who are least worthy to meet her on
intimate terms. The men who will use a woman's name freely in public are
men who will not hesitate to slander her."

"I am not slandering her," cried Harry, starting up and facing Jack with a
white face and blazing eyes. "She has accepted a bracelet from Ted
Hutchinson. I know the very price he paid for it. Thorpe helped him to
choose it, and told Miss Lenox so next day."

Jack's face puckered. "The bracelet will go back," he said in a low voice.

Harry burst out laughing: "You will find that if she is to return her
_gages d'amour_, a good many fellows will be richer than they are to-day.
She will accept anything a man offers her; and a wise man does not give
jewels for nothing, Jack."

I went out quietly.