"No time spent upon you is wasted, Zara." "There you are wrong. It is time we had an explanation. So long as mother objected to you as she does to Ned----" "To Ned?" "I mean to Mr. Bracken," said Zara, colouring and wincing. "Well then, so long as she was in that frame of mind, I let things slide. But now mother seems inclined to consider you as a possible son-in--law, and I must appeal to you." "Command me in any way." "Then don't worry me with attentions. Oh, I don't mind your behaving like a gentleman, as you have been doing, to pass the time while mother is away. I am very grateful to you for the amusement you have given me. But"--added the girl, leaning against the railings of a convenient dwelling-house--"I am not in love with you, no more than you are with me." "I do love you," said Hench, frowning; "what's the use of saying otherwise?" "You don't love me, I tell you," insisted Zara petulantly. "Trust a woman to understand the exact state of a man's heart. You like me, you admire me, you think me a good sort, but love"--she shook her head--"you don't understand love as Ned--I mean, Mr. Bracken--does." "Oh, call him Ned by all means," said Hench quietly. "I see you are friendly enough with him to do so." "I am engaged to him." "With your mother's consent?" "No. You know very well that mother wants me to marry a rich man, and Ned is poor, although he does hope to get a few hundred pounds now that his mother is dying. I love him and I intend somehow to marry him." "That is unpleasant hearing for me, Zara." "Indeed, it isn't, Mr. Hench. I know quite well what has led you to propose marriage to me----" "I never have proposed as yet," interpolated Hench quickly. "No. But you intended to. If I had not prevented you from going too far these last few days you would have proposed. Come now, isn't that the truth?" "Yes! And to make you understand me fully I ask you now to be my wife." "Then I refuse. I love Ned, and Ned only, even though he's but a poor violinist in the orchestra and earns little money. He loves me also, and in a way which you cannot comprehend." "Why not?" "Because your heart has never been touched either by me or by any other woman. It's no use your saying that it has been. I know you better than you do yourself, Mr. Hench." The young man felt slightly mortified. "You appear to have a bad opinion of me, Mademoiselle." "Indeed, I have a most excellent opinion of you. Make no mistake about that, Mr. Hench. You are an honourable gentleman; you are extremely kind-hearted and you will be an admirable husband--to the woman you love." "You are the woman, believe me!" cried Hench impetuously. Zara shook her proud head, smiling, and looked less fierce than usual. "Oh, what children men are. They want a toy and cry when they don't get it, yet break it when it is in their possession. I am the toy, Mr. Hench, and you are the child who wants it." "And if I got the toy I would break it. Eh?"