But Mrs. Gregory opened my eyes still further. “Oh, you’d have them if you had the negro to deal with as we have him. Miss Josephine,” she added, “has to-day removed her sentence of banishment.” I felt on the verge of new discoveries. “What!” I exclaimed, “and did she relent?” “New circumstances intervened,” Mrs. Gregory loftily explained. “There was an occurrence--an encounter, in fact--in which John Mayrant fittingly punished one who had presumed. Upon hearing of it, this morning, Miss Josephine sent a message to John that he might resume visiting her. “But that is perfectly grand!” I cried in my delight over Miss Josephine as a character. “It is perfectly natural,” returned Mrs. Gregory, quietly. “John has behaved with credit throughout. He was at length made to see that circumstances forbade any breach between his family and that of the other young man. John held back--who would not, after such an insult?--but Miss Josephine was firm, and he has promised to call and shake hands. My cousin, Doctor Beaugarcon, assures me that the young man’s injuries are trifling--a week will see him restored and presentable again.” “A week? A mere nothing!” I answered “Do you know,” I now suggested, “that you have forgotten to ask me what I was thinking about when we met?” “Bless me, young gentleman! and was it so remarkable?” “Not at all, but it partly answers what Mrs. Weguelin St. Michael asked me. If a young man does not really wish to marry a young woman there are ways well known by which she can be brought to break the engagement.” “Ah,” said Mrs. Gregory, “of course; gayeties and irregularities--” “That is, if he’s not above them,” I hastily subjoined. “Not always, by any means,” Mrs. Gregory returned. “Kings Port has been treated to some episodes--” Mrs. Weguelin put in a word of defence. “It is to be said, Maria, that John’s irregularities have invariably been conducted with perfect propriety.” “Oh,” said Mrs. Gregory, “no Mayrant was ever known to be gross!” “But this particular young lady,” said Mrs. Weguelin, “would not be estranged by an masculine irregularities and gayeties. Not many.” “How about infidelities?” I suggested. “If he should flagrantly lose his heart to another?” Mrs. Weguelin replied quickly. “That answers very well where hearts are in question.” “But,” said I, “since phosphates are no longer--?” There was a pause. “It would be a new dilemma,” Mrs. Gregory then said slowly, “if she turned out to care for him, after all.”