e pondered for some time before replying, and kept her eyes bent
pensively on the ground. At length she said, not without some hesitation
of manner--

"It is a small thing and quite without any bearing on this affair. But
it has been a great trouble to me since it has to some extent put a
barrier between Reuben and me; and we used to be such close friends. And
I have blamed myself for letting it influence me--perhaps unjustly--in
my opinion of him. I will tell you about it, though I expect you will
think me very foolish.

"You must know, then, that Reuben and I used, until about six months
ago, to be very much together, though we were only friends, you
understand. But we were on the footing of relatives, so there was
nothing out of the way in it. Reuben is a keen student of ancient and
mediaeval art, in which I also am much interested, so we used to visit
the museums and galleries together and get a great deal of pleasure from
comparing our views and impressions of what we saw.

"About six months ago, Walter took me aside one day and, with a very
serious face, asked me if there was any kind of understanding between
Reuben and me. I thought it rather impertinent of him, but nevertheless,
I told him the truth, that Reuben and I were just friends and nothing
more.

"'If that is the case,' said he, looking mighty grave, 'I would advise
you not to be seen about with him quite so much.'

"'And why not?' I asked very naturally.

"'Why, the fact is,' said Walter, 'that Reuben is a confounded fool. He
has been chattering to the men at the club and seems to have given them
the impression that a young lady of means and position has been setting
her cap at him very hard, but that he, being a high-souled philosopher
above the temptations that beset ordinary mortals, is superior both to
her blandishments and her pecuniary attractions. I give you the hint for
your own guidance,' he continued, 'and I expect this to go no farther.
You mustn't be annoyed with Reuben. The best of young men will often
behave like prigs and donkeys, and I have no doubt the fellows have
grossly exaggerated what he said; but I thought it right to put you on
your guard.'

"Now this report, as you may suppose, made me excessively angry, and I
wanted to have it out with Reuben then and there. But Walter refused to
sanction this--'there was no use in making a scene' he said--and he
insisted that the caution was given to me in strict confidence; so what
w