“You said you cared for me,” urged Usk. Félicia wavered. “Félicia Steinherz, if you give in now I’m done with you,” said Maimie, and Félicia unhooked Usk’s ring from her bangle, and threw it at him. “I just hate you both!” she cried; “but I’ve concluded which to choose.” CHAPTER XIII. _MALA SORTE._ “Is that you, Usk? Come in. Why, what’s gone wrong?” “Félicia and I have broken it off. I thought you’d be glad to know.” “I am interested to hear it. You broke it off, I hope?” “I suppose you would say it was done by mutual consent,” said Usk drearily. “I told her to choose between the King and me, and she chose him.” “I am glad she has made a definite choice, at any rate,” said his uncle. “Hard hit, Usk? What do you mean to do.” “Leave this to-morrow, unless you or Aunt Ernestine want me for anything.” “Why, where are you off to?” “Only to London. My father will be busy with this Bill of his, and I daresay I can help him a little.” “Right. Throw yourself into it. Work as hard as you can. But don’t you think such a sudden departure will seem a little marked?” “I don’t know. I can’t help it.” Usk wondered why his uncle was looking at him with such a curious, meditative gaze. “I couldn’t stay here and meet them every day.” “I suppose not. The natural instinct is to hide yourself, no doubt. But don’t give way to it more than you can help. It’ll soon wear off, and you will find some one who will compensate you for everything.” “Never!” said Usk, so tragically that Cyril only restrained a smile with difficulty. “I may marry, to please my father and mother, but I can never feel again to any woman as I have done to Félicia.” “Don’t be too sure. Why, if you stayed on here for a day or two, you might even find your heart caught at the rebound almost at once.” “If you knew how I have loved and--and believed in Félicia, you wouldn’t say that--and I thought she loved me. How could I ever trust a woman again who said she cared for me? I believe these French marriages are better, after all. If you don’t love a woman, it can’t hurt so much when she plays you false.” “My dear Usk, you will allow me to say that you are talking very great and very youthful nonsense. But I will remember your partiality for arranged marriages, and possibly I may be able to gratify you at some future time. And don’t make sweeping statements about women, because that only shows how young you are. You are prejudiced just now.” “Prejudiced? I should think I was!” laughed Usk fiercely. “Why, as I came home just now, I couldn’t see a fellow walking with a girl without wanting to call out to him that she was making a fool of him.” “You had better go back to London, certainly, and forswear female society for the present. It would be brutal to inflict you on any unfortunate girl while you are in this state of mind. Your aunt will agree with me, though we shall miss you.”