innocence of their families, came up into her mind. Could it be possible that Elinor's pure name could be entangled in such a guilty web as this? CHAPTER XI. "Funny old poop!" said Compton. "And that is your Rector, Nell. I shall tell Dick there's rare fun to be had in that house: but not for me. I know what I shall be thinking of all the time I'm there. Odious little Nell! to interfere like this with a fellow's fun. But I say, who's that woman who knows me or my family?--much good may it do her, as I said before. Tell me, Nell, did she speak ill of me?" "Oh, Phil, how could you ask? or what would it matter if she spoke ever so ill?" "She did then," he said with a graver face. "Somebody was bound to do it. And what did she say?" "Oh, what does it matter, Phil? I don't remember; nothing of any consequence. We paid no attention, of course, neither mamma nor I." "That was plucky of the old girl," said Compton. "I didn't suppose you would give ear, my Nell. Ain't so sure about her. If I'd been your father, my pet, I should never have given you to Phil Compton. And that's the fact: I wonder if the old lady would like to reconsider the situation now." "Phil!" said Elinor, clinging to his arm. "Perhaps it would be best for you if you were to do so, Nell, or if she were to insist upon it. Eh! You don't know me, my darling, that's the fact. You're too good to understand us. We're all the same, from the old governor downwards--a bad lot. I feel a kind of remorseful over you, child, to-day. That rosy old bloke, though he's a snob, makes a man think of innocence somehow. I do believe you oughtn't to marry me, Nell." "Oh, Phil! what do you mean? You cannot mean what you say." "I suppose I don't, or I shouldn't say it, Nell. I shouldn't certainly, if I thought you were likely to take my advice. It's a kind of luxury to tell you we're a bad lot, and bid you throw me over, when I know all along you won't." "I should think not indeed," she said, clinging to him and looking up in his face. "Do you know what my cous--I mean a friend, said to me on that subject?" "You mean your cousin John, whom you are always quoting. Let's hear what the fellow said." "He said--that I wasn't a girl to put up with much, Phil. That I wasn't one of the patient kind, that I would not bear---- I don't know what it was I would not bear; but you see you must consider my defects, which you can understand well enough, whether I can understand yours or not." "That you could not put up with--that you could not bear? that meant me, Nell. He had been talking to you on the same subject, me and my faults. Why didn't you listen to him? I suppose he wanted you to have him instead of me." "Phil! how dare you even think of such a thing? It is not true." "Wasn't it? Then he is a greater fool than I took him for, and his opinion's no good. So you're a spitfire, are you? Can't put up with anything that doesn't suit you? I don't know that I should have found that out."