“After all,” said Tony, in a half-dogged tone, “I don't see that the speech had any reference to me, or to any peculiar delicacy of yours with respect to me.” “Ah, my poor Tony, you have a deal to learn about women and their ways! By good luck fortune has given you a friend--the one man--I declare I believe what I say--the one man in Europe that knows the whole thing; as poor Balzac used to say, '_Cher_ Skeffy, what a fellow you would be if you had my pen!' He was a vain creature, Balzac; but what he meant was, if I could add his descriptive power to my own knowledge of life; for you see, Tony, this was the difference between Balzac and me. He knew Paris and the salons of Paris, and the women who frequent these salons. I knew the human, heart. It was woman, as a creature, not a mere conventionality, that she appeared to me.” “Well, I take it,” grumbled out Tony, “you and your friend had some points of resemblance too.” “Ah! you would say that we were both vain. So we were, Tony,--so is every man that is the depository of a certain power. Without this same conscious thought, which you common folk call vanity, how should we come to exercise the gift! The little world taunts us with the very quality that is the essence of our superiority.” “Had Bella perfectly recovered? was she able to be up and about?” “Yes, she was able to take carriage airings, and to be driven about in a small phaeton by the neatest whip in Europe.” “Mr. Skeff Damer, eh?” “The same. Ah, these drives, these drives! What delicious memories of woodland and romance! I fell desperately in love with that girl, Tony--I pledge you my honor I did. I 've thought a great deal over it all since I started for Ireland, and I have a plan, a plan for us both.” “What is it?” “Let us marry these girls. Let us be brothers in law as well as in love. You prefer Alice,--I consent. Take her, take her, Tony, and may you be happy with her!” And as he spoke, he laid his hand on the other's head with a reverend solemnity. “This is nonsense, and worse than nonsense,” said Tony, angrily; but the other's temper was imperturbable, and he went on: “You fancy this is all dreamland that I 'm promising you: but that is because you, my dear Tony, with many good qualities, are totally wanting in one,--you have no imagination, and, like all fellows denied this gift, you never can conceive anything happening to you except what has already happened. You like to live in a circle, and you do live in a circle,--you are the turnspits of humanity.” “I am a troublesome dog, though, if you anger me,” said Tony, half fiercely. “Very possibly, but there are certain men dogs never attack.” And as Skeffy said this, he threw forward his chest, held his head back, and looked with an air of such proud defiance that Tony lay back in a chair and laughed heartily.