"Excuse me, I have my reasons. The fellow was not too conciliatory to me, and I'm not running after English lords just now. Good-afternoon." Alfred left the club, more than ever inclined to support the cause of Jack Harkaway. Dinner was ready, when he reached home, and when the meal was over, he had an opportunity of speaking to his sister. Mrs. Van Hoosen had gone to the opera, having accepted a seat in Lord Maltravers's box, but Lena remained at home under the plea of a severe headache. The brother and sister sat on a lounge together, and Alfred slipped his arm round her waist. "You have stayed home, my baby," he said, "because you didn't want to meet _him_." "Whom do you mean?" asked Lena. "This English puppy, Lord Maltravers. Is it not so, sis?" "Yes, dear," she replied. "When did you see him?" "To-day, at the club, and we came near having a row." "What about?" "He mentioned your name, and I told him that I did not care to have my sister spoken of in a public place." "That was right," said Lena. "Tell me, my pet, which do you like best, Maltravers or Harkaway?" Lena blushed scarlet. "I esteem Mr. Harkaway very much," she replied. "Esteem?" he repeated. "Is not that cold?" "Well, as far as love goes, I do not know that I love any one." "Yet you have lots of admirers." "Have I?" "Why, certainly you have, and a pretty girl like you deserves them. But tell me, do you care for this upstart lord?" "Mamma says he has the blood of forty generations in his veins, and is the representative of one of the first noble families in England." "I know mamma's weakness, and I am ashamed of it; but let me put it to you plainly. If you had your choice of the two men, which would you rather marry?" "What do you think?" replied Lena with an arch smile. "Harkaway." "You are welcome to your opinion. I will not contradict you. Yet, Alfred, I cannot offend our mother, and I must be civil to a man, I freely admit, I do not like." "If you ever marry him, I'll never speak to you again." "That would be a terrible punishment," said Lena, "for you know full well, how much I think of you, Alfred." "I do know it, sis, but my advice to you is to consult your own happiness." "I cannot be happy if I offend mamma." "But you cannot be happy if you marry Lord Maltravers." "That is the dilemma," said Lena, "and how am I to get out of it?" Alfred Van Hoosen shook his head. "Give me a few days to think the matter over," he replied, "and perhaps I can see some way out of the difficulty. One thing I know, I would rather see you drop down dead at the altar, than become the wife of that man." "Oh! Alfred. What dreadful language!" "You do not know so much about him as I do. I am Harkaway's friend now, and I don't want you to encourage Maltravers. You will do that much for me?" "I can make no promise." "Why not?" "I must obey mamma--oh!" she added, while the tears flooded her eyes, "I wish I had never been born!" "That is a foolish wish."