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 must shoot anybody, it should be chiefly yourself, and after that your father, and mother, and sisters. But you need not talk of being black. Such sins are venial now-a-days, and convey nothing deeper than a light shade of brown.'

'I regard a man who can act in such a way as very base.'

'Such a way as what, Mr. Staveley?'

'A man who can win a girl's heart for his own amusement.'

'I said nothing about the winning of hearts. That is treachery of the worst dye; but I acquit you of any such attempt. When there is a question of the winning of hearts men look so different.'

'I don't know how they look,' said Augustus, not altogether satisfied as to the manner in which he was being treated—'but such has been my audacity,—my too great audacity on the present occasion.'

'You are the most audacious of men, for your audacity would carry you to the feet of another lady to-morrow without the slightest check.'

'And that is the only answer I am to receive from you?'

'It is quite answer enough. What would you have me do? Get up and decline the honour of being Mrs. Augustus Staveley with a curtsy?'

'No—I would have you do nothing of the kind. I would have you get up and accept the honour,—with a kiss.'

'So that you might have the kiss, and I might have the—; I was going to say disappointment, only that would be untrue. Let me assure you that I am not so demonstrative in my tokens of regard.'

'I wonder whether you mean that you are not so honest?'

'No, Mr. Staveley; I mean nothing of the kind; and you are very impertinent to express such a supposition. What have I done or said to make you suppose that I have lost my heart to you?'

'As you have mine, it is at any rate human nature in me to hope that I might have yours.'

'Psha! your heart! You have been making a shuttlecock of it till it is doubtful whether you have not banged it to pieces. I know two ladies who carry in their caps two feathers out of it. It is so easy to see when a man is in love. They all go cross-gartered like Malvolio;—cross-gartered in their looks and words and doings.'

'And there is no touch of all this in me?'

'You cross-gartered! You have never got so far yet as a lack-a-daisical twist to the corner of your mouth. Did you watch Mr. Orme before he went away?'

'Why; was he cross-gartered?'

'But you men have no eyes; you never see anything. And your idea of love-making is to sit under a tree wishing, wondering