He was thus engaged, when that bustling woman noiselessly re-

entered.

'Have you eaten?' said she. 'Then tell me all about it.'

It was a long and (as the reader knows) a pitiful story; but

Flora heard it with compressed lips. She was lost in none of

those questionings of human destiny that have, from time to

time, arrested the flight of my own pen; for women, such as

she, are no philosophers, and behold the concrete only. And

women, such as she, are very hard on the imperfect man.

'Very well,' said she, when he had done; 'then down upon your

knees at once, and beg God's forgiveness.'

And the great baby plumped upon his knees, and did as he was

bid; and none the worse for that! But while he was heartily

enough requesting forgiveness on general principles, the

rational side of him distinguished, and wondered if, perhaps,

the apology were not due upon the other part. And when he

rose again from that becoming exercise, he first eyed the

face of his old love doubtfully, and then, taking heart,

uttered his protest.

I must say, Flora,' said he, 'in all this business, I can

see very little fault of mine.'

Tales and Fantasies