But before that, she called Fanny to her door, and with a smile breaking through the trouble of her face, she asked, "How do you suppose he got back? I never thought of it before." "_Oh!_" cried Mrs. Ellison with profound disgust, "I hope he had to _walk_ back. But I'm afraid there were only too many chances for him to ride. I dare say he could get a calash at the hotel there." Kitty had not spoken a word of reproach to Fanny for her part in promoting this hapless affair; and when the latter, returning to her own room, found the colonel there, she told him the story and then began to discern that she was not without credit for Kitty's fortunate escape, as she called it. "Yes," said the colonel, "under exactly similar circumstances she'll know just what to expect another time, if that's any comfort." "It's a _great_ comfort," retorted Mrs. Ellison; "you can't find out what the world is, too soon, I can tell you; and if I hadn't maneuvered a little to bring them together, Kitty might have gone off with some lingering fancy for him; and think what a misfortune that would have been!" "Horrible." "And now, she'll not have a single regret for him." "I should think not," said the colonel; and he spoke in a tone of such dejection, that it went to his wife's heart more than any reproach of Kitty's could have done. "You're all right, and nobody blames you, Fanny; but if _you_ think it's well for such a girl as Kitty to find out that a man who has had the best that the world can give, and has really some fine qualities of his own, can be such a poor devil, after all, then _I_ don't. She may be the wiser for it, but you know she won't be the happier." "O _don't_, Dick, don't speak seriously! It's so dreadful from _you_. If you feel so about it, why don't you do something." "O yes, there's a fine opening. We know, because we know ever so much more, how the case really is; but the way it seems to stand is, that Kitty couldn't bear to have him show civility to his friends, and ran away, and then wouldn't give him a chance to explain. Besides, what could I do under any circumstances?" "Well, Dick, of course you're right, and I wish I could see things as clearly as you do. But I really believe Kitty's glad to be out of it." "What?" thundered the colonel. "I think Kitty's secretly relieved to have it all over. But you needn't _stun_ me." "You _do_?" The colonel paused as if to gain force enough for a reply. But after waiting, nothing whatever came to him, and he wound up his watch. "To be sure," added Mrs. Ellison thoughtfully, after a pause, "she's giving up a great deal; and she'll probably never have such another chance as long as she lives." "I hope she won't," said the colonel. "O, you needn't pretend that a high position and the social advantages he could have given her are to be despised." "No, you heartless worldling; and neither are peace of mind, and self-respect, and whole feelings, and your little joke."