reconciliation, Sally declared that she had now banished Lord Berkeley

from her mind; and added, "And in order to make sure that he shall never

make trouble between us again, I will teach myself to detest that name

and all that have ever borne it or ever shall bear it."

This inflicted another pang, and Tracy was minded to ask her to modify

that a little just on general principles, and as practice in not

overdoing a good thing--perhaps he might better leave things as they were

and not risk bringing on another tiff. He got away from that particular,

and sought less tender ground for conversation.

I suppose you disapprove wholly of aristocracies and nobilities, now

that you have renounced your title and your father's earldom."

Real ones? Oh, dear no--but I've thrown aside our sham one for good."

This answer fell just at the right time and just in the right place, to

save the poor unstable young man from changing his political complexion

once more. He had been on the point of beginning to totter again, but

this prop shored him up and kept him from floundering back into

democracy and re-renouncing aristocracy. So he went home glad that he

had asked the fortunate question. The girl would accept a little thing like a

genuine earldom, she was merely prejudiced against the brummagem

article.

Yes, he could have his girl and have his earldom, too: that question was

a fortunate stroke.

253

The American Claimant