ot Christian,
you know."

"You are enough to turn the saintliest Christian into a cast-away,"
proceeded Mell, severely. "Can't you be serious for a little
while? I am not a child to be mocked at and cajoled and cozened and
hood-winked, _faire pattes de velours_, treated to flim-flam and
sweet-meats, knowing all the while that you are ashamed of my mere
acquaintance."

"You can't think such a thing!"

"I do think it! I have cause to think it! See here, suppose you were
in love with Miss Rutland--"

"I can't suppose that! I couldn't be if my life depended on it; not
after seeing you. Why do you wish me to suppose that?"

He shot a keen glance at her.

"That I may ask you this question--If you were, would you make love to
her after the same methods you employ toward me?"

"No; I don't believe I would. I am quite sure I would not. The woman
is herself responsible for the way in which love is made to her. I
can't be with you any time without wanting to call you some pet name,
and I never feel that way with Clara."

"It is my fault, then, that you are so disrespectful?"

"Am I disrespectful?"

"You are. Listen to me for a moment, Mr. Devonhough. If you really
care for my society, as you say you do, why do you not seek it as you
do the society of other young ladies--at home? My father is a poor
man, but he is honest; and honesty should count for something, even in
good society. He is also illiterate, but no one can say aught against
his character; and character ought to be more desirable than much
learning. Then, again, although the blood in my veins may lack in
blueness, it is pure, which is a matter of some importance.
Altogether, I don't see why you should look down upon me."

"I do not look down upon you!" Jerome was earnest enough now. "I
know that I ought to have called at the house, but--ahem! my time is
not exactly at my own disposal. In a word, I have not had an
opportunity."

Jerome, saying this, looked far away in pensive thoughtfulness. Mell,
listening, looked hard into his face.

"Opportunity!" ejaculated Mell. "You manage somehow to call upon me
pretty often elsewhere!"

"Not at a visitable hour."

"Were I a man and wanted to see a girl, I'd _make_ my opportunity!"

She laughed, derisively--there is something very undiverting in such a
laugh.

"Would you, Mell? No, you would not. You would do like the rest of
mankind; submit as best you could to the inflexible logic of events
and do the b