Mr. Mildmay lived in a small house in Green Street, very near the Park, but still a modest, unassuming, cheap little house. Jack De Baron knew the way to it well, and was there not above a quarter-of-an-hour after the appointed time. "So aunt Ju has gone to the Rights of Women, has she?" he said, after his first greeting. He might have kissed her if he would, but he didn't. He had made up his mind about that. And so had she. She was ready for him, whether he should kiss her or not,--ready to accept either greeting, as though it was just that which she had expected. "Oh, yes; she is going to make a speech herself." "But why do they give prizes to young men?" "Because the young men have stood up for the old women. Why don't you go and get a prize?" "I had to be here instead." "Had to be here, sir!" "Yes, Guss; had to be here! Isn't that about it? When you tell me to come, and tell me that I am a coward if I don't come, of course I am here." "And now you are here, what have you got to say for yourself?" This she attempted to say easily and jauntily. "Not a word." "Then I don't see what is the use of coming?" "Nor I, either. What would you have me say?" "I would have you,--I would have you----" And then there was something like a sob. It was quite real. "I would have you tell me--that you--love me." "Have I not told you so a score of times; and what has come of it?" "But is it true?" "Come, Guss, this is simple folly. You know it is true; and you know, also, that there is no good whatever to be got from such truth." "If you loved me, you would like--to--see me." "No, I shouldn't;--no, I don't;--unless it could lead to something. There was a little fun to be had when we could spoon together,--when I hardly knew how to ask for it, and you hardly knew how to grant it; when it was a little shooting bud, and had to be nursed by smiles and pretty speeches. But there are only three things it can come to now. Two are impossible, and therefore there is the other." "What are the three?" "We might get married." "Well?" "One of the three I shall not tell you. And we might--make up our minds to forget it all. Do what the people call, part. That is what I suggest." "So that you may spend your time in riding about with Lady George Germain." "That is nonsense, Guss. Lady George Germain I have seen three times, and she talks only about her husband; a pretty little woman more absolutely in love I never came across." "Pretty little fool!" "Very likely. I have nothing to say against that. Only, when you have no heavier stone to throw against me than Lady George Germain, really you are badly off for weapons." "I have stones enough, if I chose to throw them. Oh, Jack!" "What more is there to be said?" "Have you had enough of me already, Jack?" "I should not have had half enough of you if either you or I had fifty thousand pounds." "If I had them I would give them all to you."