"Look here, Mary," he cried, "if I could only get rid of my position, and settle down with you as a country gentleman, I'd do it to-morrow. Damn the title, it's going to be the curse of my life." Perhaps in that moment Mary also wished that the title were at the bottom of the sea, and that her lover were only the plain Mr. John Robinson she had thought him. These big, stupid men are often very loveable in spite of, or because of their weakness. They appeal to the mother side of a woman's heart, and that is the biggest side in all good women. Suddenly however, the door opened. The countess appeared, and sentiment flew out. Lord C---, releasing Mary, sprang back, looking like a guilty school-boy. "I thought I heard Miss Sewell go out," said her ladyship in the icy tones that had never lost their power of making her son's heart freeze within him. "I want to see you when you are free." "I shan't be long," stammered his lordship. "Mary--Miss Sewell is just going." Mary waited without moving until the countess had left and closed the door behind her. Then she turned to her lover and spoke in quick, low tones. "Give me her address--the girl they want you to marry!" "What are you going to do?" asked his lordship. "I don't know," answered the girl, "but I'm going to see her." She scribbled the name down, and then said, looking the boy squarely in the face: "Tell me frankly, Jack, do you want to marry me, or do you not?" "You know I do, Mary," he answered, and his eyes spoke stronger than his words. "If I weren't a silly ass, there would be none of this trouble. But I don't know how it is; I say to myself I'll do, a thing, but the mater talks and talks and--" "I know," interrupted Mary with a smile. "Don't argue with her, fall in with all her views, and pretend to agree with her." "If you could only think of some plan," said his lordship, catching at the hope of her words, "you are so clever." "I am going to try," answered Mary, "and if I fail, you must run off with me, even if you have to do it right before your mother's eyes." What she meant was, "I shall have to run off with you," but she thought it better to put it the other way about. Mary found her involuntary rival a meek, gentle little lady, as much under the influence of her blustering father as was Lord C--- under that of his mother. What took place at the interview one can only surmise; but certain it is that the two girls, each for her own ends, undertook to aid and abet one another.