“Oh, she is far nicer than I am,” cried Adele. “_She_ wouldn’t trifle with the feelings of the man she loved, or play tricks with him just for the sake of fun. In fact, I almost blame her for taking such things too seriously. She hasn’t had too easy a time of it, poor girl, and it has made her, _I_ think, altogether _too_ humble. She met a young man in the midst of her troubles who, it seems, was civil to her, and even kind as men go, and what does she do but just sit down and worship the very memory of him, and cry out her pretty blue eyes over it--and he--he walks off and never gives her another thought. That’s the _man_ of it!” A gleam of indignation flashed through the moisture in her own eyes as she bent them upon her companion. Her bosom heaved the more as she discerned a broad smile extending itself upon his face. “Although I might demur to details,” he said, restraining the gaiety which struggled for expression in his voice, “I must not pretend to fail to recognise the portrait you have drawn. I am the guilty man!” “You laugh at it!” she exclaimed. “To you it seems a joke!” “Are you so certain that there isn’t a joke concealed somewhere about it?” he suggested, calmly. “I lose patience with you! You make a jest of everything. Tell me this much: Do you or do you not know her present address?” “I know precisely where she is to be found at the present moment,” said David, speaking now with gravity. “Well, and have you been there to see her? Have you written to her there? Have you given her the slightest sign since she has been there of any desire on your part to ever see her again?” “I must answer ‘No’ to each question, I am afraid,” he responded, and had the grace to hang his head. His evident humility only momentarily impressed her. “I am disappointed in you,” she said. “Where will you find a sweeter or truer woman? Don’t think I am throwing her at your head! Quite the contrary. If you were to ask for her now, I should advise with all my might against you. But you have behaved like a simpleton. I am going to have her always live with me, or near me. She is my own flesh and blood, and I love her as if she were my sister. She doesn’t know, as yet, that I am aware of the relationship; but I have written to her this very morning, telling her to come and see me to-night, when I get back. I am going to spend some money in Scotland.” “It will be profoundly appreciated, believe me.”