not. It can't be helped, and you shall answer me." "There is no answer, dear lady—I beg you—oh, do you not see—" "Yes, yes; but answer my question; am I not kind—more than you deserve?" "Indeed, yes; a thousand times. You have always been so kind, so gracious and so condescending to me that I can only thank you, thank you, thank you," answered Brandon, almost shyly; not daring to lift his eyes to hers. Mary saw the manner quickly enough—what woman ever missed it, much less so keen-eyed a girl [118]as she—and it gave her confidence, and brought back the easy banter of her old time manner. [118] "How modest we have become! Where is the boldness of which we used to have so much? Kind? Have I always been so? How about the first time I met you? Was I kind then? And as to condescension, don't—don't use that word between us." "No," returned Brandon, who, in his turn, was recovering himself, "no, I can't say that you were very kind at first. How you did fly out at me and surprise me. It was so unexpected it almost took me off my feet," and they both laughed in remembering the scene of their first meeting. "No, I can't say your kindness showed itself very strongly in that first interview, but it was there nevertheless, and when Lady Jane led me back, your real nature asserted itself, as it always does, and you were kind to me; kind as only you can be." That was getting very near to the sentimental; dangerously near, he thought; and he said to himself: "If this does not end quickly I shall have to escape." "You are easily satisfied if you call that good," laughingly returned Mary. "I can be ever so much better than that if I try." "Let me see you try," said Brandon. "Why, I'm trying now," answered Mary with a distracting little pout. "Don't you know genuine out-and-out goodness when you see it? I'm doing my very best now. Can't you tell?" [119]"Yes, I think I recognize it; but—but—be bad again." [119] "No, I won't! I will not be bad even to please you; I have determined not to be bad and I will not—not even to be good. This," placing her hand over her heart, "is just full of 'good' to-day," and her lips parted as she laughed at
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