would have understood her. He was much cleverer, and certainly
more of a man of the world. When Slinn had treated her like a
child, it was with the humorous tolerance of an admiring superior,
and not the didactic impulse of a guardian. She did not say this,
nor did her pretty eyes indicate it, as in the instance of her
brief anger with Slinn. She only said gently,--

"I should have thought you, of all men, would have been particular
about your wife doing the proper thing. But never mind! Don't let
us talk any more about it. Perhaps as it seems such a great thing
to you, and so much trouble, there may be no necessity for it at
all."

I do not think that the young lady deliberately planned this
charmingly illogical deduction from Don Caesar's speech, or that
she calculated its effect upon him; but it was part of her nature
to say it, and profit by it. Under the unjust lash of it, his
pride gave way.

"Ah, do you not see why I wish to go with you?" he said, with
sudden and unexpected passion. "You are beautiful; you are good;
it has pleased Heaven to make you rich also; but you are a child in
experience, and know not your own heart. With your beauty, your
goodness, and your wealth, you will attract all to you--as you do
here--because you cannot help it. But you will be equally
helpless, little one, if THEY should attract YOU, and you had no
tie to fall back upon."

It was an unfortunate speech. The words were Don Caesar's; but the
thought she had heard before from her mother, although the