Confidence

cution. As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himsel

ed, should be fluttered, Bernard would feel very sorry for her; there was nothing in the world that he respected more than the moral consciousness of a little Boston woman whose view of life was serious and whose imagination was subject to alarms. He held it to be a temple of delicacy, where one should walk on tiptoe, a

nd," Bernard said to her, observing it. "Studying philosophy

we need a little

us. But I should n't attempt the

you were not clever," said Mrs. Vivian.

ncongruity in Mrs. Vivian's beginning to flatter him. He needed to rem

every one is no one,

ticular," she rejoined. "H

nded by fr

riendship," said Mrs. Vivian.

g him out a te

well-we are so very fo

aid Bernard. "But it depends

ubjects." And dropping her eyes as if in sudden reflection,

that she had set her heart upon seeing this young lady come into six thousand a year. Miss Evers's devoted swain had never struck Bernard as a brilliant reasoner, but our friend suddenly found himself regarding him as one of the inspired. The form of depravity into which the New England conscience had lapsed on Mrs. Vivian's part was an undue appreciation of a pos

ently observed. "Now, there is Captain Lovelock; he ha

nced up with a

Captain Lovel

say capital things

d Mrs. Vivian. "Please don

ly want t

for a moment

much to be just?"

most arden

-and I can easily belie

d himself a serious question. "Why the deuce does she go on fla

ht's account," she

skirting the edge of clever impudence; but Mrs. Vivian's quiet little reply suggested to him that her cleverness

k to Gordon Wright," he s

an blushe

ived he found us some excellent ones-that were less expensive. And then, Mr. Longueville," she added, with a soft, sweet emphasis which should properly have contradict

hould set up a tablet to commemorate it, in the wall of the K

s sportive sarcasm, and she continued to e

. Wright. I don't know what we should have done without him, and I feel as if every one ought to know it. He seems like a very old friend. My daughter and I quite wor

ning, with his ey

imply at home w

n was sile

as a very large

now that I am with him he h

you write volumes to each other. But he

ernard. "And if he has, you

xclaimed. "With his immense prope

anced at h

ol as you seem.-Gordon's virtues are always necessary, doubtle

deprecation. "Oh, don't ask me to say! I know

but he is n

said Mrs. Vivian, with a little laugh. "To a poverty-strick

exclaimed Bernard. "Our friend has

his property, but he was so modest, so reserved in the to

id Bernard. "He would be sure to

ntended, but even had it been less so, Bernard was in a mood to appreciate it. "I felt that

ts credit for his good taste-and he gets cred

as if to make her words appear more casual,

was enamored of Gordon's fortune, and it had suddenly occurred to her that instead of treating the friend of her daughter's suitor with civil mistrust, she would help her case better by giving him a hint of her state of mind and appealing to his sense of propriety. Nothing could be more natural than that Mrs. Vivian should suppose that Bernard desired his friend's success; for, as o

the evening, Gordon Wright c

from my sister," he said. "I am

ard, who was so well pleased with th

home. She has decided not to remain behind, and they are to sail a fortnight hence. She wants very much to see me before she goes, and as I don't

f into your situation," said Bernard. "On the other hand, I d

at will be breathless," e

rtainly come

s. Vivian is to be

ell, we shall mi

ked for a moment

ere, then? I am

anted; but on reflectio

mend you

your word is la

e ladies," his friend went on. "

ever hear of my 'taking care' of any one? It

on. "I simply want to feel tha

at any rate-they have

ers, who, by the way, is extremely bored with him. You look after the others

to be coarse and flattering, I collapse. If yo

e," Gordon observed, with a

I will go to Mrs. Vivian every mor

pockets and a meditative expression

," he said, at last, stoppin

nce fo

at a conclusion ab

ave a gen

arrive at a conclusion long ago? Did n

? The first comer could tell m

ing different?" Bernard asked. "

in complete independence. You will have her to yourself-my absence will leave yo

he broke into an irrepressible laugh. "I don't suppose

turn about t

ne. At least, it

our be

ou the other day. They are all mixed up

are never fresh,

y dilemma." The note of reproach was so distinct in these words that Bernar

answer as serio

to me of all dilem

went on with a sudden outbreak of passion-"don't you see that I am horribly divid

id of

-that she would be a difficult wife

ort of

e might flirt,

a thing for a

en that up. If I should induce Angela Vivian to accept me she would do it on grounds pur

some time lookin

than you. It 's impossibl

ueville!" said

with the reality, and with-what shall I term it?-the estimable character of what you call your

ys useful. It will be

n it? Do you propose to take or to leave Miss Vivian-that is, to return

question, in spite of the ironical light which

do what I ch

ned. "This idea of yours is, after all,

you flat if I choo

ng. "Even the most sincere judgment in the world likes to

cere judgment in the w

you that you may have reason to be jealous-leaving me a

Gordon exclaimed. "That would simplif

eally with a hope of this contingency-though, indee