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
was I to do? I tried to ignore it and treat Reuben as I always had done,
but this I found impossible; my womanly pride was much too deeply hurt.
And yet I felt it the lowest depth of meanness to harbour such thoughts
of him without giving him the opportunity to defend himself. And
although it was most unlike Reuben in some respects, it was very like
him in others; for he has always expressed the utmost contempt for men
who marry for a livelihood. So I have remained on the horns of a dilemma
and am there still. What do you think I ought to have done?"

I rubbed my chin in some embarrassment at this question. Needless to