"Of course I do. Pray, do you desert your friends when ill luck falls on them?" "Nay, Mistress Kate, I hope not." "You only triumph over the misfortunes of your enemies, eh?" said the stinging beauty. "Not even that. And as for Mr. Gaunt, I am not his enemy." "O no, of course not. You are his best friend. Witness his arm at this moment." "I am his rival, but not his enemy. I'll give you a proof." Then he lowered his voice, and said in her ear: "You are grieved at his losing Bolton; and, as you are very generous and noble-minded, you are all the more grieved because his loss is your gain." (Kate blushed at this shrewd hit.) Neville went on: "You don't like him well enough to marry him; and since you cannot make him happy, it hurts your good heart to make him poor." "It is you for reading a lady's heart," said Kate, ironically. George proceeded steadily. "I'll show you an easy way out of this dilemma." "Thank you," said Kate, rather insolently. "Give Mr. Gaunt Bolton and Hernshaw, and give me--your hand." Kate turned and looked at him with surprise; she saw by his eye it was no jest. For all that, she affected to take it as one. "That would be long and short division," said she; but her voice faltered in saying it. "So it would," replied George, coolly; "for Bolton and Hernshaw both are not worth one finger of that hand I ask of you. But the value of things lies in the mind that weighs 'em. Mr. Gaunt, you see, values Bolton and Hernshaw very highly; why, he is in despair at losing them. Look at him; he is getting rid of his reason before your very eyes, to drown his disappointment." "Ah! oh! that is it, is it?" And, strange to say, she looked rather relieved. "That is it, believe me: it is a way we men have. But, as I was saying, _I_ don't care one straw for Bolton and Hernshaw. It is _you_ I love,--not your land nor your house, but your sweet self; so give me that, and let the lawyers make over this famous house and lands to Mr. Gaunt. His antagonist I have been in the field, and his rival I am and must be, but not his enemy, you see, and not his ill-wisher." Kate was softened a little. "This is all mighty romantic," said she, "and very like a _preux chevalier_, as you are; but you know very well he would fling land and house in your face, if you offered them him on these terms." "Ay, in my face, if I offered them; but not in yours, if you." "I am sure he would, all the same." "Try him." "What is the use?" "Try him." Kate showed symptoms of uneasiness. "Well, I will," said she, stoutly. "No, that I will not. You begin by bribing me; and then you would set me to bribe him." "It is the only way to make two honest men happy." "If I thought that--" "You know it. Try him." "And suppose he says nay?" "Then we shall be no worse than we are." "And suppose he says ay?" "Then he will wed Bolton Hall and Hernshaw, and the pearl of England will wed me."