afraid you was conceited."

He turned to Miss Foster again, and Mr. Widden, with a despairing
gesture, abandoned himself to gloom. He made no further interruptions,
but at the conclusion of the walk hesitated so long on the door-step that
Mr. Letts had to take the initiative.

"Good-night," he said, shaking hands. "Come round to-morrow night and
I'll give you another lesson. You're a slow learner, that's what you
are; a slow learner."

He gave Mr. Widden a lesson on the following evening, but cautioned him
sternly against imitating the display of brotherly fondness of which, in
a secluded lane, he had been a wide-eyed observer.

"When you've known her as long as I have--nineteen years," said Mr.
Letts, as the other protested, "things'll be a bit different. I might
not be here, for one thing."

By exercise of great self-control Mr. Widden checked the obvious retort
and walked doggedly in the rear of Miss Foster. Then, hardly able to
believe his ears, he heard her say something to Mr. Letts.

"Eh?" said that gentleman, in amazed accents.

"You fall behind," said Miss Foster.

"That--that's not the way to talk to the head of the family," said Mr.
Letts, feebly.