could never become an echo of himself. In her world she had been an
intelligent observer and thinker, and she interpreted that world to
him as naturally and unassumingly as a flower blooms and exhales its
fragrance. For the first time in his life he gave himself up to the
charm of a cultivated woman's society, and to do this in his present
leisure seemed the most sensible thing possible.

"One can see a rare flower," he had reasoned, "without wishing to
pluck it, or hear a wood-thrush sing without straightway thinking of a
cage. Miss St. John's affections may be already engaged, or I may be
the last person in the world to secure them. Idle fancies of what she
might become to me are harmless enough. Any man is prone to indulge in
these when seeing a woman who pleases his taste and kindles his
imagination. When it comes to practical action one may expect and
desire nothing more than the brightening of one's wits and the
securing of agreeable pastime. I do not see why I should not be
entirely content with these motives, until my brief visit is over,
notwithstanding my aunt's ominous warnings;" and so without any
misgivings he had at first yielded himself to all the spells that Miss
St. John might unconsciously weave.

As time passed, however, he began to doubt whether he could maintain
his cool, philosophic attitude of enjoyment. He found himself growing
more and more eager for the hours to return when he could seek her
society, and the intervening time was becoming dull and heavy-paced.
The impulse to go back to Germany and to resume his studies was slow
in coming. Indeed, he was at last obliged to admit to himself that a
game of whist with the old major had more attractions than the latest
scientific treatise. Not that he doted on the irascible veteran, but
because he thus secured a fair partner whose dark eyes were beaming