“And they all know that I, at least, was ready to perform my part of the engagement honorably.” “Wallace,” she said, with a sudden change of tone; “I think we had better separate. It is not right for me to be riding about the park with you when I have nobody belonging to me here except a man-servant.” “Just as you please,” he said, coolly, halting. “May I assure Janet that you wish her to marry me?” “Most certainly not. I do not wish anyone to marry you, much less my own sister. I am far inferior to Janet; and she deserves a much better husband than I do.” “I quite agree with you, though I don’t quite see what that has to do with it. As far as I understand you, you will neither marry me yourself--mind, I am quite willing to fulfil my engagement still--nor let any one else have me. Is that so?” “You may tell Janet,” said Alice, vigorously, her face glowing, “that if we--you and I--were condemned to live forever on a desert isl--No; I will write to her. That will be the best way. Good-morning.” Parker, hitherto imperturbable, now showed signs of alarm. “I beg, Alice,” he said, “that you will say nothing unfair to her of me. You cannot with truth say anything bad of me.” “Do you really care for Janet?” said Alice, wavering. “Of course,” he replied, indignantly. “Janet is a very superior girl.” “I have always said so,” said Alice, rather angry because some one else had forestalled her with the meritorious admission. “I will tell her the simple truth--that there has never been anything between us except what is between all cousins; and that there never could have been anything more on my part. I must go now. I don’t know what that man must think of me already.” “I should be sorry to lower you in his esteem,” said Parker, maliciously. “Good-bye, Alice.” Uttering the last words in a careless tone, he again pulled up the white horse’s head, raised his hat, and sped away. It was not true that he was in the habit of riding in the park every season. He had learned from Janet that Alice was accustomed to ride there in the forenoon; and he had hired the white horse in order to meet her on equal terms, feeling that a gentleman on horseback in the road by the Serpentine could be at no social disadvantage with any lady, however exalted her associates. As for Alice, she went home with his reminder that Miss Carew was her patron rankling in her. The necessity for securing an independent position seemed to press imminently upon her. And as the sole way of achieving this was by marriage, she felt for the time willing to marry any man, without regard to his person, age, or disposition, if only he could give her a place equal to that of Miss Carew in the world, of which she had lately acquired the manners and customs. CHAPTER XII