"You might have been more gallant, and found more difficulty in the selection," she said, pertly.

"But since when have you gentlemen become so observant and so punctilious?
Would you expect him to be as considerate of others ?" "I have few claims that any one seems bound to respect," he returned, brusquely.

Then, in a softer voice, he added, looking at her, gently,-- "You were in mourning when you came here this afternoon, Miss Saltonstall." "Was I?
It was for Dr.West--my mother's friend." "It was very becoming to you." "You are complimenting me.

But I warn you that Captain Carroll said something better than that; he said mourning was not necessary for me.
I had only to 'put my eye-lashes at half-mast.' He is a soldier you know." "He seems to be as witty as he is fortunate," said Guest, bitterly.
"Do you think he is fortunate ?" said Maruja, raising her eyes to his.
There was so much in this apparently simple question that Guest looked in her eyes for a suggestion.

What he saw there for an instant made his heart stop beating.