Jim flushed and felt uncomfortable; he could not tell Louisa his real motive; he felt ashamed of himself, and longed to be out of this noisy scene. "And it isn't that I don't pity you," she continued. "Of course I can see that you are cut up; who would have thought that a gel like Alison----" Jim put up his big hand. "Not a word," he said; "I won't discuss it--I can't!" "You are awful cut up, old fellow, aint you?" said Louisa, moving a step or two out of the crowd and motioning him to a corner. "Look here," she continued, "there's a quiet nook here, just under the stairs; let us stand here for a minute, I want to talk to yer. I know you are cut up, and I am sorry--yes, that I am." "I can't discuss it with you, Miss Clay," said Jim. "Oh, aint it stiff of you to call me Miss Clay!" she retorted; "when you know me so well." "Perhaps it is," he answered, too good-natured to be rude to her. "I will call you Louisa if you like; but Louisa or Miss Clay, whichever you are, I can't talk of this matter." Louisa's great black eyes seemed to blaze like living fires. She gave Jim a long glance. "Just you tell me one thing," she said, almost in a whisper. "What is that?" he asked, surprised at her change of tone. "Are you going to marry Alison Reed, Jim Hardy?" "You have no right to ask me the question," he replied, "but as you have, I will for once answer you frankly. If I don't marry Alison Reed, no other girl shall be my wife." "Is that a vow?" she asked. "You can take it as such, if you like," he said. "I wouldn't make it," she replied. "No man can tell how he will change." "I'll never change," he replied. "I think I'll say 'good-night' now." "Oh, dear! you aint going? Well, you shan't go until I have had my say. I just wanted to know the truth; now I know it. Look here, Jim; I am your friend, and I am Alison Reed's friend. There is nothing I wouldn't do for either of you. Alison must be cleared of the shameful thing she was accused of in the shop to-day." "She will be cleared," said Jim; "that is my business. Good-night, Louisa; I must go home." "One minute first. I'll help you to clear Miss Reed. Will you sit next me at dinner to-morrow?" "That is as you like," replied Jim. "Please do," she added; "I'll have made a plan by then. Yes, Alison must be cleared. It seems to me that it is more a woman's work than a man's." "No, it is my work," said Jim. "But I'll sit next to you with pleasure; it is nothing to me one way or other." Louisa's eyes drooped; an angry color flooded her face. Jim held out his hand; she gave hers: the next minute the two young men were again in the street. "Well," said Sampson, "we have done good business, have we not?" "I can't see it," replied Jim. "Louisa is innocent. I don't like her, but she has had no more to do with that affair than I have had; so there."