wealthy American. Isabella, to part Selina from me, helped
her father. What arguments they used I do not know, but
Selina suddenly changed in her manner towards me. Out of
pique--you may think this weak of me, Cuthbert, but I was a
fool in those days--I became engaged to a girl who was a
singer. Her name was Emilia Saul, and I believe she was of
Jewish extraction. I liked her in a way, and she had a
wonderful power over me. I proposed and was accepted."

"But if you had really loved Miss Loach--"

"I should have worn the willow. I told you I was foolish,
and, moreover, Miss Saul fascinated me. Selina was cold,
Emilia was charming, and I was weak. Therefore, I became
engaged to Emilia, and Selina--as I heard, arranged to marry
her wealthy American. I believe she was angry at my
apparently forgetting her so soon. But she was in fault, not
I."

Cuthbert looked at his smart shoes. "Had I loved Selina,"
said he slowly, "I should have remained true to her, and have
married her in spite of the objection of her father--"

"And of her sister Isabella--Mrs. Octagon that is; don't
forget that, Cuthbert. And I could scarcely run away with a
girl who believed stories about me."

"What sort of stories?" asked Mallow, remembering certain
rumors.