vocation."

"How long can you listen?" he questioned in delighted eagerness.

I fancied he would have to be allowanced, and I held up my paper
pattern before me: "This bouquet of flowers is to be transferred.
I will give you all the time it will take to do it. Remember, the
catastrophe must be reached by that time. Some one else will probably
want my ear."

"But," said he, "listening is not the only duty of a confidante: you
must aid me by your counsel. Only a woman may say how a woman may be
won."

"You have my sympathies, Mr. Tremont, on the score of your being a
very dear brother's friend. I know nothing of her--next to nothing of
you. I can neither counsel nor aid you."

"That brother is familiar with every page of my outward life-history.
It was in our family he spent his vacation, while you and your father
were traveling in Europe."

"Well, then, that will do about yourself. Now about her?"

The door-bell was rung: the waiter announced--well, my obliging
brother has already given enough of his name--"Mr. J.B." My confessor
withdrew.

The next morning, as I was bringing the freshened flower-vases into
the sitting-room, he brought me my bag, saying, "Now about her."

I opened the piano, repeated his favorite, kept my seat and cultivated
my roses vigorously.

"Miss ----," he began, "I would not knowingly give pain to a human
creature. Yesterday, when your visitor found me by your side, I
observed a frown on his face. I detest obtrusiveness, but if there is
anything in the relation in which you stand to each other which will
make my attentions objectionable to either of you, they shall cease
this moment. You are at perfect liberty to repeat to him every word I
have said to you."

"I thank you sincerely for your considerateness," I said. "I am under
no obligations of the kind to him or any other gentleman."

He introduced his topic by saying: "I am glad that I shall have to
say little more of myself. Oh, what a strange joy it is to be able to
speak unreservedly of her, and of the long pent-up hopes and fears
of the past years! And now, if you will assist me in interpreting
her conduct toward me--if you will inspire me with even faint hope
of success--if you will advise me as you would a brother how to
proceed,--gratitude will be too weak a word for my feeling toward you
for the remainder of my life."

"I have not yet sufficient light on her part of the affair to aid you
by advice," I answered. "In the