"But they say you have run away from society to pine alone for a worthless creature--a woman who has used you, as she has used and thrown away others--a--" "A woman," chimed in Dick, who had thrown himself on James's bed while his patent leathers were drying, "a woman that all the fellers know never intended"--here, however, he met James North's eye, and muttering something about "whole thing being too idiotic to talk about," relapsed into silence. "You know," continued Mrs. North, "that while we and all our set shut our eyes to your very obvious relations with that woman, and while I myself often spoke of it to others as a simple flirtation, and averted a scandal for your sake, and when the climax was reached, and she herself gave you an opportunity to sever your relations, and nobody need have been wiser--and she'd have had all the blame--and it's only what she's accustomed to--you--you! you, James North!--you must nonsensically go, and, by this extravagant piece of idiocy and sentimental tomfoolery, let everybody see how serious the whole affair was, and how deep it hurt you! and here in this awful place, alone--where you're half drowned to get to it and are willing to be wholly drowned to get away! Oh, don't talk to me! I won't hear it--it's just too idiotic for anything!" The subject of this outburst neither spoke nor moved a single muscle. "Your aunt, Mr. North, speaks excitedly," said the elder gentleman; "yet I think she does not overestimate the unfortunate position in which your odd fancy places you. I know nothing of the reasons that have impelled you to this step; I only know that the popular opinion is that the cause is utterly inadequate. You are still young, with a future before you. I need not say how your present conduct may imperil that. If you expected to achieve any good--even to your own satisfaction--but this conduct--" "Yes--if there was anything to be gained by it!" broke in Mrs. North. "If you ever thought she'd come back!--but that kind of woman don't. They must have change. Why"--began Dick suddenly, and as suddenly lying down again. "Is this all you have come to say?" asked James North, after a moment's patient silence, looking from one to the other. "All?" screamed Mrs. North; "is it not enough?" "Not to change my mind nor my residence at present," replied North, coolly. "Do you mean to continue this folly all your life?" "And have a coroner's inquest, and advertisements and all the facts in the papers?" "And have HER read the melancholy details, and know that you were faithful and she was not?" This last shot was from the gentle Maria, who bit her lips as it glanced from the immovable man. "I believe there is nothing more to say," continued North, quietly. "I am willing to believe your intentions are as worthy as your zeal. Let us say no more," he added, with grave weariness; "the tide is rising, and your coachman is signaling you from the bank."