‘What, and is it to _that_ her high ambitions tend? Is _he_ the prize she would strive to win?’ ‘I can be no guide to you in this matter, Dick. She makes no confidences with me, and of myself I see nothing.’ ‘You have, however, some influence over her.’ ‘No; not much.’ ‘I did not say much; but enough to induce her to yield to a strong entreaty, as when, for instance, you implored her to spare your brother--that poor fellow about to fall so hopelessly in love--’ ‘I’m not sure that my request did not come too late after all,’ said she, with a laughing malice in her eye. ‘Don’t be too sure of that,’ retorted he, almost fiercely. ‘Oh, I never bargained for what you might do in a moment of passion or resentment.’ ‘There is neither one nor the other here. I am perfectly cool, calm, and collected, and I tell you this, that whoever your pretty Greek friend is to make a fool of, it shall not be Dick Kearney.’ ‘It might be very nice fooling, all the same, Dick.’ ‘I know--that is, I believe I know--what you mean. You have listened to some of those high heroics she ascends to in showing what the exaltation of a great passion can make of any man who has a breast capable of the emotion, and you want to see the experiment tried in its least favourable conditions--on a cold, soulless, selfish fellow of my own order; but, take my word for it, Kate, it would prove a sheer loss of time to us both. Whatever she might make of me, it would not be a _hero_; and whatever I should strive for, it would not be her _love_.’ ‘I don’t think I’d say that if I were a man.’ He made no answer to these words, but arose and walked the room with hasty steps. ‘It was not about these things I came here to talk to you, Kitty,’ said he earnestly. ‘I had my head full of other things, and now I cannot remember them. Only one occurs to me. Have you got any money? I mean a mere trifle--enough to pay my fare to town?’ ‘To be sure I have that much, Dick; but you are surely not going to leave us?’ ‘Yes. I suddenly remembered I must be up for the last day of term in Trinity. Knocking about here--I’ll scarcely say amusing myself--I had forgotten all about it. Atlee used to jog my memory on these things when he was near me, and now, being away, I have contrived to let the whole escape me. You can help me, however, with a few pounds?’ ‘I have got five of my own, Dick; but if you want more--’ ‘No, no; I’ll borrow the five of your own, and don’t blend it with more, or I may cease to regard it as a debt of honour.’ ‘And if you should, my poor dear Dick--’ ‘I’d be only pretty much what I have ever been, but scarcely wish to be any longer,’ and he added the last words in a whisper. ‘It’s only to be a brief absence, Kitty,’ said he, kissing her; ‘so say good-bye for me to the others, and that I shall be soon back again.’ ‘Shall I kiss Nina for you, Dick?’