Eugenia flushed. "He is not," she said hotly. "Your manner towards him must have been most mortifying." "My dear child!" exclaimed Mrs. Cathcart, in innocent surprise, "and I was trying to befriend the young man? He presumes on his acquaintance with your father. I always told your poor father it was a mistake becoming intimate with persons of that class." Eugenia said no more. If she had thought of so doing it was not the moment to open her heart to Mrs. Cathcart. She went to her room intending to write to Gerald; but no letter was written that day. How could she ask him to call at her aunt's after what had occurred? "I love him," she said to herself, "but I am not brave enough to give up all for him. Oh, why did we ever meet?" The next morning she received a letter from Gerald. It contained no reproach--only an entreaty that she would name a time when he might see her. Mrs. Cathcart was true to her duty. Before James Herbert was out of bed she had sent him word that a letter had come for Eugenia. He went at once to his sister. His greeting was quite friendly. "Eugenia," he said presently, "of course by now you have put all that nonsense about that sculptor-fellow out of your pretty head?" "It is no nonsense." "Well, if you mean to be obstinate I must interfere. Have you seen him since?" "Aunt went to his studio. I was with her." "She ought to have known better. If she encourages you we shall quarrel. Do you correspond? Tell me the truth." She offered him Gerald's letter. He waved it aside as a thing beneath his notice. "Have you answered it?" he asked. "Not yet. I am just going to." Her brother still remained calm and polite, with that contemptuous, incredulous smile playing round his lips. "If you will make a fool of yourself, I can't stop you. If you, with your beauty and position, choose to go and live in a garret, you must do so. Still, as your brother, I have certain responsibilities which would still be mine were your lover the highest in the land. I must make inquiries as to his character and moral worth--these fellows are generally a loose lot." "You may make what inquiries you choose." "Thank you. Now one favor--a command, the last I shall ask or give. You will not answer this letter--you will not see the man--until I have satisfied myself on these points. It is not too much to ask, Eugenia." She felt the justice of his remarks--could it be she was weak enough to be glad of a little delay and breathing space? But Gerald's face, as last she saw it, rose before her. "You must name a time," she said. "So impatient for true love and social extinction," sneered Herbert. "Surely you can restrain yourself until this day week." It was longer than she had meant. But her brother's bitter sneers settled it. "So be it," she said, "until this day week."