As Mariana passed, Nevins smiled and called to her: "I say, Miss Musin, here is a vandal who complains that you make night hideous." Algarcife scowled. "Nevins is a fool," he retorted, "and if he doesn't know it, he ought to be told so." "Thanks," returned Nevins, amiably, "but I have long since learned not to believe anything I hear." Anthony's irritation increased. "I should have thought the presumptive evidence sufficient to overcome any personal bias," he replied. Nevins spread out his hands with an imperturbable shrug. "My dear fellow, I never found my conclusions upon presumptive evidence. Had I done so, I should hold life to be a hollow mockery--whereas I am convinced that it is a deuced solid one." "You are so bad-tempered--both of you," said Mariana; "but, Mr. Algarcife, do you really object to my singing? I can't keep silent, you know." Algarcife smiled. "I never supposed that you could," he answered. "And as for music, I had as soon listen to you as to--to Patti." "Not that he values your accomplishments more, but Patti's less," observed Nevins, placidly. "On the other hand, I should say that Miss Musin would make decidedly the less noise," said Anthony. "He's a brute, isn't he, Mariana?" asked Nevins--and added, "Now I never said you made anything hideous, did I?" Mariana laughed, looking a little vexed. "If you wouldn't always repeat everything you hear other people say, it would be wiser," she responded, tartly. "Such is the reward of virtue," sighed Nevins. "All my life I have been held as responsible for other people's speeches as for my own. And all from a conscientious endeavor to let my neighbors see themselves as others see them--" Algarcife smiled good-humoredly. "Whatever bad qualities Nevins may possess," he said, "he has at least the courage of his convictions--" Nevins shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know about the convictions," he rejoined, "but I've got the courage all right." Then he looked at Mariana. "Is that an implement of housewifery that I see?" he demanded. "I have been to a darning-party," she answered, "but we didn't darn anything--not even circumstances." "Lucky circumstances!" ejaculated Nevins. Then he lowered his voice. "I should not have believed it of you," he protested; "to attend a darning-party, and to leave not only me, but my socks, outside." Mariana flushed angrily. "You are insufferable," she said, "and you haven't a particle of tact--not a particle. Only yesterday I heard you tell Mr. Morris that his head looked like an advertisement for sapolio, and the day before you told Miss Freighley that I said she didn't know how to dress her hair." "It was true," said Nevins. "You can't make a liar of me, Mariana." "I wish you wouldn't call me Mariana," she retorted; and he went upon his way with a lament. As Mariana laid her hand upon her door-knob she looked at Anthony. "Mr. Algarcife," she said, "do you really mind my singing so very much?"