"You know I care for Elsie more than for anyone in this world, Ina."
"Yes, I know that."
"I'm not jealous of Blake—not in the ordinary way. I have been keeping myself a little aloof from Elsie lately on purpose. She has given me her promise that if her prince, as she puts it, doesn't come along within a year, she will marry me"
"Ah! Elsie's prince!" Ina laughed nervously.
"Ina, a horrible fear has struck me these last days. Suppose that Blake should turn out to be Elsie's prince?"
"Oh! no, no," Ina cried. "I cannot bear that man. There's something about him; I can't describe the feeling he gives me. He is not true."
"He is good looking, and he is a gentleman; and I believe, judging from his speech to-night, and the effect it has had, that he will very soon make a mark. I don't know anything against him. Why shouldn't she marry him? If she is in love with him I shall not put myself forward. I shall not stand in the way. I shall wish her happiness with all my heart, and I shall always remain her friend."
"And yet you said that you had a horrible fear. You can't help feeling as I do about Mr. Blake?"
"Ah!" Frank cried, "I am human, and I love her. It's because of that that I want her to have her chance, and Blake, too. I wont let myself think ill of him, if I can help, but a fellow is a man after all, Ina."
They went out into the night. Minnie Pryde came beside Lady Horace. "I know that you two anyhow won't be talking sentiment," she said. "I saw pretty soon that I had better make myself scarce, as far as the other two are concerned."
Ina and Frank both laughed discordantly. "Oh, I forgot," cried Miss Pryde. "Don't mind me, Mr. Hallett, and look here, oughtn't you to go back and listen to Mr. Leeke? He had got up just as we left."
Hallett bade good-night to Ina, and paused for a moment
