Then he went his way and passed into Mr.Wentworth's garden.

That civilizing process to which he had suggested that Clifford should be subjected appeared to have come on of itself.

Felix was very sure, at least, that Mr.Wentworth had not adopted his ingenious device for stimulating the young man's aesthetic consciousness.

"Doubtless he supposes," he said to himself, after the conversation that has been narrated, "that I desire, out of fraternal benevolence, to procure for Eugenia the amusement of a flirtation--or, as he probably calls it, an intrigue--with the too susceptible Clifford.

It must be admitted--and I have noticed it before--that nothing exceeds the license occasionally taken by the imagination of very rigid people." Felix, on his own side, had of course said nothing to Clifford; but he had observed to Eugenia that Mr.Wentworth was much mortified at his son's low tastes.