He did not really feel that the result was worse than what had gone before, and it left him free.
But he did not go to the Leightons again for so long a time that Mrs.
Leighton asked Alma what had happened.

Alma told her.
"And he won't come any more ?" her mother sighed, with reserved censure.
"Oh, I think he will.

He couldn't very well come the next night.

But he has the habit of coming, and with Mr.Beaton habit is everything--even the habit of thinking he's in love with some one." "Alma," said her mother, "I don't think it's very nice for a girl to let a young man keep coming to see her after she's refused him." "Why not, if it amuses him and doesn't hurt the girl ?" "But it does hurt her, Alma.

It--it's indelicate.