"Yes. Sends her regards, and all that sort of thing. But--" and he hesitated, at the same time tossing his hat across upon a chair, and seating himself on the edge of the table in that careless, devil-may-care style habitual to him. "But what?" I inquired. He sighed, and a grave expression crossed his face. "Fact is, old chap," he said in an unusually earnest tone, "I fear I'm getting a bit tired of her. She wasn't the least bit interesting to-night." "Sorry to hear that, old man," I said. "Perhaps she wasn't very well-- or you may be out of sorts--liver, or something. A woman isn't always in the same mood, you know, just as a man is liable to attacks of blues." "Yes, yes, I know all that," he exclaimed impatiently. "But I've been thinking over it a long time, and, to tell the truth, I'm no longer in love with her. It's no good making a fool of the girl any longer." "But she loves you," I observed, knowing well in what affection she held my erratic friend. "That's the devil of it!" he snapped. "To tell the truth, it has worried me a lot lately." "You've neglected her very much," I observed, "but surely she's good-looking, a charming companion, and has a very even temper. You've told me so lots of times. Why have you so suddenly grown tired?" "I really don't know," he answered, smiling, at the same time slowly filling his pipe. "Perhaps it's my nature. I was always a wanderer, you know." I looked at him steadily for some moments, then said bluntly-- "Look here, Dick, you needn't conceal the truth from me, old fellow. Mary Blain has attracted you, and you are throwing Lil over on her account." "Rubbish!" he laughed. "Mary's a nice girl, but as for loving her--" and he shrugged his shoulders without concluding his sentence. Notwithstanding this protest, however, I felt convinced that I had guessed aright, and regretted, because I knew how well Lily loved him, and what a blow it would be to her. She and I had been good friends always, and I liked her, for she was demure, modest, and withal dignified, even though she were but a shop assistant. "Well, is it really fair to Lily?" I suggested, after a rather painful pause. "You surely wouldn't advise me to tie myself to a girl I don't love?" he protested, rather hastily. "You are a fellow with lots of common sense, Frank, and your advice I'd follow before that of any chap I know, but here you're a bit wide of the mark, I think." "Thanks for the compliment, old fellow," I responded. "Of course it isn't for me to interfere in your private affairs, but all I advise in this matter is a little hesitation before decision." "It's useless," he said. "I've already decided." "To give up Lily?" "I have given her up. I told her to-night that I shouldn't see her again."