If a third person had been present at this conversation--and there was nothing in it surely that might not have been spoken before a trusty listener--that person would perhaps have thought, from the immediate expression of Mary Gosselin's face, that she was on the point of exclaiming "You take me for too big a fool!" No such ungracious words in fact however passed her lips; she only said after an instant: "What reason do you propose to give, on the day you need one, for our rupture?" Her interlocutor stared. "To you, do you mean?" "_I_ sha'n't ask you for one. I mean to other people." "Oh, I'll tell them you're sick of me. I'll put everything on you, and you'll put everything on me." "You _have_ worked it out!" Mary exclaimed. "Oh, I shall be intensely considerate." "Do you call that being considerate--publicly accusing me?" Guy Firminger stared again. "Why, isn't that the reason _you_'ll give?" She looked at him an instant. "I won't tell you the reason I shall give." "Oh, I shall learn it from others." "I hope you'll like it when you do!" said Mary, with sudden gaiety; and she added frankly though kindly the hope that he might soon light upon some young person who would really meet his requirements. He replied that he shouldn't be in a hurry--that was now just the comfort; and she, as if thinking over to the end the list of arguments against his clumsy contrivance, broke out: "And of course you mustn't dream of giving me anything--any tokens or presents." "Then it won't look natural." "That's exactly what I say. You can't make it deceive anybody." "I _must_ give you something--something that people can see. There must be some evidence! You can simply put my offerings away after a little and give them back." But about this Mary was visibly serious; she declared that she wouldn't touch anything that came from his hand, and she spoke in such a tone that he coloured a little and hastened to say: "Oh, all right, I shall be thoroughly careful!" This appeared to complete their understanding; so that after it was settled that for the deluded world they were engaged, there was obviously nothing for him to do but to go. He therefore shook hands with her very gratefully and departed. V