第47章 XV.(3)

"Not even of Miss Rasmith. I know that she has a history, and that it's a sad one." She paused in ironical hesitation. "You've been so good as to caution me about her brother--and I never can be grateful enough--and that makes me almost free to suggest--"She stopped again, and he asked, hardily, "What?""Oh, nothing. It isn't for me to remind my pastor, my ghostly adviser"--she pulled down her mouth and glanced at him demurely--" and I will only offer the generalization that a girl is never so much in danger of having her heart broken as when she's had it broken--Oh, are you leaving me?"she cried, as Breckon rose from his chair.

"Well, then, send Boyne to me." She broke into a laugh as he faltered.

"Are you going to sit down again? That is right. And I won't talk any more about Miss Kenton.""I don't mind talking of her," said Breckon. "Perhaps it will even be well to do so if you are in earnest. Though it strikes me that you have rather renounced the right to criticise me.""Now, is that logical? It seems to me that in putting myself in the attitude of a final friend at the start, and refusing to be anything more, I leave established my right to criticise you on the firmest basis.

I can't possibly be suspected of interested motives. Besides, you've just been criticizing me, if you want a woman's reason!""Well, go on."

"Why, I had finished. That's the amusing part. I should have supposed that I could go on forever about Miss Kenton, but I have nothing to go upon. She has kept her secret very well, and so have the rest of them.

You think I might have got it out of Boyne? Perhaps I might, but you know I have my little scruples. I don't think it would he quite fair, or quite nice.""You are scrupulous. And I give you credit for having been more delicate than I've been.""You don't mean you've been trying to find it out!""Ah, now I'm not sure about the superior delicacy!""Oh, how good!" said Miss Rasmith. " What a pity you should be wasted in a calling that limits you so much.""You call it limiting? I didn't know but I had gone too far.""Not at all! You know there's nothing I like so much as those little digs.""I had forgotten. Then you won't mind my saying that this surveillance seems to me rather more than I have any right to from you.""How exquisitely you put it! Who else could have told me to mind my own business so delightfully? Well, it isn't my business. I acknowledge that, and I spoke only because I knew you would be sorry if you had gone too far. I remembered our promise to be friends."She threw a touch of real feeling into her tone, and he responded, "Yes, and I thank you for it, though it isn't easy."She put out her hand to him, and, as he questioningly took it, she pressed his with animation. " Of course it isn't! Or it wouldn't be for any other man. But don't you suppose I appreciate that supreme courage of yours? There is nobody else-nobody!--who could stand up to an impertinence and turn it to praise by such humility.""Don't go too far, or I shall be turning your praise to impertinence by my humility. You're quite right, though, about the main matter. Ineedn't suppose anything so preposterous as you suggest, to feel that people are best left alone to outlive their troubles, unless they are of the most obvious kind.""Now, if I thought I had done anything to stop you from offering that sort of helpfulness which makes you a blessing to everybody, I should never forgive myself.""Nothing so dire as that, I believe. But if you've made me question the propriety of applying the blessing in all cases, you have done a very good thing."Miss Rasmith was silent and apparently serious. After a moment she said, "And I, for my part, promise to let poor little Boyne alone."Breckon laughed. "Don't burlesque it! Besides, I haven't promised anything.""That is very true," said Miss Rasmith, and she laughed, too.