"Yes, I do. But you didn't know how bad you were f-fooling me. And even if you had of--it must be mighty hard for some young ladies not to--to----" "Flirt," said Fannie, looking down on her rose. "I reckon those who do it find it the easiest and prettiest wickedness in the world, don't they?" "Oh, I don't know! All my wickedness is ugly and hard. But I'm glad you expected enough of me to be disappointed." "Yes, I did. Why, John, you never in your life offered me a sign of regard but I felt it an honor. You've often tripped and stumbled, but I--oh, I'm too bad myself to like a perfect boy. What I like is a boy with a conscience." "My guiding star!" murmured John. "Oh! ridiculous!--No, I take that back! But--but--why, that's what disappoints me! If you'd made me just your first mile-board. But it hurts me--oh, it hurts me! and--far worse--it's hurting Cousin Rose Garnet! to--now, don't flush up that way--to see John March living by passion and not by principle!" "H--oh! Miss Fannie!" He strained up a superior smile. "Is passion--are passions bound to be ignoble? But you're making the usual mistake----" "How, John?" She put on a condescending patience. "Why, in fancying you women can guide a man by----" "Preaching?" the girl interrupted. Her face had changed. "I know we can't," she added, abstractedly. John was trying to push his advantage. "Passion!" he exclaimed. "Passion? Miss Fannie, you look at life with a woman's view! We men--what are we without passion--all the passions? Furnaces without fire! Ships without sails!" "True! John. And just as true for women. But without principles we're ships without rudders. Passion ought to fill our sails, yes; but if principles don't steer we're lost!" "Now, are you not making yourself my guiding star?" "No! I won't have the awful responsibility! I'm nothing but a misguided girl. Guiding star! Oh, fancy calling me that when your dear old----" "Do--o--on't!" "Then take it back and be a guiding star yourself! See here! D'you remember the day at the tournament when you were my knight? John March, can you believe it? I! me! this girl! Fannie Halliday! member of the choir! I prayed for you that day. I did, for a fact! I prayed you might come to be one of the few who are the knights of all mankind; and here you--John, if I had a thousand gold dollars I'd rather lose them in the sea than have you do what you're this day----" "Miss Fannie, stop; I'm not doing it. It's not going to be done. But oh! if you knew what spurred me on--I can't expl----" "You needn't. I've known all about it for years! I got it from the girls who put you to bed that night. But no one else knows it and they'll never tell. John," Fannie pushed her gaiter's tip with her parasol, "guess who was here all last evening, smoking the pipe of peace with pop." "Jeff-Jack?" "I mean besides him. Brother Garnet! John, what is that man mostly, fox or goose?" "Oh, now, Miss Fannie, you're unjust! You're--you're partisan!"