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Captain　Lovelock　scrutinized　Blanche's　appearance　with　a　fixed　and　solemn　eye；　and　then　he　replied

〃It　proves　you　are　very　lovely。〃

Blanche　kissed　her　finger…tips　to　him　in　return　for　this　compliment。

〃You　only　need　to　give　Captain　Lovelock　a　chance；〃　she　rattled　on；　〃and　he　is　as　clever　as　any　one。　　That　's　what　I　like　to　do　to　my　friendsI　like　to　make　chances　for　them。　Captain　Lovelock　is　like　my　dear　little　blue　terrier　that　I　left　at　home。　　If　I　hold　out　a　stick　he　will　jump　over　it。　He　won't　jump　without　the　stick；　but　as　soon　as　I　produce　it　he　knows　what　he　has　to　do。　　He　looks　at　it　a　moment　and　then　he　gives　his　little　hop。　　He　knows　he　will　have　a　lump　of　sugar；　and　Captain　Lovelock　expects　one　as　well。　　Dear　Captain　Lovelock；　shall　I　ring　for　a　lump？　　Would　n't　it　be　touching？　Gar；alcon；　un　morceau　de　sucre　pour　Monsieur　le　Capitaine！　But　what　I　give　Monsieur　le　Capitaine　is　moral　sugar！　　I　usually　administer　it　in　private；　and　he　shall　have　a　good　big　morsel　when　you　go　away。〃

Gordon　got　up；　turning　to　Bernard　and　looking　at　his　watch。

〃Let　us　go　away；　in　that　case；〃　he　said；　smiling；　〃and　leave　Captain　Lovelock　to　receive　his　reward。　　We　will　go　and　take　a　walk；　we　will　go　up　the　Champs　Elysees。　　Good　morning；　Monsieur　le　Capitaine。〃

Neither　Blanche　nor　the　Captain　offered　any　opposition　to　this　proposal；　and　Bernard　took　leave　of　his　hostess　and　joined　Gordon；　who　had　already　passed　into　the　antechamber。






CHAPTER　XXV

Gordon　took　his　arm　and　they　gained　the　street；　they　strolled　in　the　direction　of　the　Champs　Elysees。

〃For　a　little　exercise　and　a　good　deal　of　talk；　it　's　the　pleasantest　place；〃　said　Gordon。　　〃I　have　a　good　deal　to　say；　I　have　a　good　deal　to　ask　you。〃

Bernard　felt　the　familiar　pressure　of　his　friend's　hand；　as　it　rested　on　his　arm；　and　it　seemed　to　him　never　to　have　lain　there　with　so　heavy　a　weight。　　It　held　him　fastit　held　him　to　account；　it　seemed　a　physical　symbol　of　responsibility。　　Bernard　was　not　re…assured　by　hearing　that　Gordon　had　a　great　deal　to　say；　and　he　expected　a　sudden　explosion　of　bitterness　on　the　subject　of　Blanche's　irremediable　triviality。　　The　afternoon　was　a　lovely　one　the　day　was　a　perfect　example　of　the　mellowest　mood　of　autumn。　The　air　was　warm　and　filled　with　a　golden　haze；　which　seemed　to　hang　about　the　bare　Parisian　trees；　as　if　with　a　tender　impulse　to　drape　their　nakedness。　　A　fine　day　in　Paris　brings　out　a　wonderfully　bright　and　appreciative　multitude　of　strollers　and　loungers；　and　the　liberal　spaces　of　the　Champs　Elysees　were　on　this　occasion　filled　with　those　placid　votaries　of　inexpensive　entertainment　who　abound　in　the　French　capital。　　The　benches　and　chairs　on　the　edge　of　the　great　avenue　exhibited　a　dense　fraternity　of　gazers；　and　up　and　down　the　broad　walk　passed　the　slow…moving　and　easily　pleased　pedestrians。　　Gordon；　in　spite　of　his　announcement　that　he　had　a　good　deal　to　say；　confined　himself　at　first　to　superficial　allusions；　and　Bernard　after　a　while　had　the　satisfaction　of　perceiving　that　he　was　not　likely；　for　the　moment；　to　strike　the　note　of　conjugal　discord。　He　appeared；　indeed；　to　feel　no　desire　to　speak　of　Blanche　in　any　manner　whatever。　　He　fell　into　the　humor　of　the　hour　and　the　scene；　looked　at　the　crowd；　talked　about　trifles。　　He　remarked　that　Paris　was　a　wonderful　place　after　all；　and　that　a　little　glimpse　of　the　Parisian　picture　was　a　capital　thing　as　a　change；　said　he　was　very　glad　they　had　come；　and　that　for　his　part　he　was　willing　to　stay　three　months。

〃And　what　have　you　been　doing　with　yourself？〃　he　asked。　〃How　have　you　been　occupied；　and　what　are　you　meaning　to　do？〃

Bernard　said　nothing　for　a　moment；　and　Gordon　presently　glanced　at　his　face　to　see　why　he　was　silent。　　Bernard；　looking　askance；　met　his　companion's　eyes；　and　then；　resting　his　own　upon　them；　he　stopped　short。　　His　heart　was　beating；　it　was　a　question　of　saying　to　Gordon　outright；　〃I　have　been　occupied　in　becoming　engaged　to　Angela　Vivian。〃　　But　he　could　n't　say　it；　and　yet　he　must　say　something。　　He　tried　to　invent　something；　but　he　could　think　of　nothing；　and　still　Gordon　was　looking　at　him。

〃I　am　so　glad　to　see　you！〃　he　exclaimed；　for　want　of　something　better；　and　he　blushedhe　felt　foolish；　he　felt　falseas　he　said　it。

〃My　dear　Bernard！〃　　Gordon　murmured　gratefully；　as　they　walked　on。　〃It　's　very　good　of　you　to　say　that；　I　am　very　glad　we　are　together　again。　I　want　to　say　something；〃　he　added；　in　a　moment；　〃I　hope　you　won't　mind　it〃　Bernard　gave　a　little　laugh　at　his　companion's　scruples；　and　Gordon　continued。　　〃To　tell　the　truth；　it　has　sometimes　seemed　to　me　that　we　were　not　so　good　friends　as　we　used　to　be　that　something　had　come　between　usI　don't　know　what；　I　don't　know　why。　I　don't　know　what　to　call　it　but　a　sort　of　lowering　of　the　temperature。　I　don't　know　whether　you　have　felt　it；　or　whether　it　has　been　simply　a　fancy　of　mine。　　Whatever　it　may　have　been；　it　's　all　over；　is　n't　it？　We　are　too　old　friendstoo　good　friendsnot　to　stick　together。　Of　course；　the　rubs　of　life　may　occasionally　loosen　the　cohesion；　but　it　is　very　good　to　feel　that；　with　a　little　direct　contact；　it　may　easily　be　re…established。　Is　n't　that　so？　　But　we　should　n't　reason　about　these　things；　one　feels　them；　and　that　's　enough。〃

Gordon　spoke　in　his　clear；　cheerful　voice；　and　Bernard　listened　intently。　It　seemed　to　him　there　was　an　undertone　of　pain　and　effort　in　his　companion's　speech；　it　was　that　of　an　unhappy　man　trying　to　be　wise　and　make　the　best　of　things。

〃Ah；　the　rubs　of　lifethe　rubs　of　life！〃　　Bernard　repeated　vaguely。

〃We　must　n't　mind　them；〃　said　Gordon；　with　a　conscientious　laugh。　〃We　must　toughen　our　hides；　or；　at　the　worst；　we　must　plaster　up　our　bruises。　　But　why　should　we　choose　this　particular　place　and　hour　for　talking　of　the　pains　of　life？〃　he　went　on。　〃Are　we　not　in　the　midst　of　its　pleasures？　　I　mean；　henceforth；　to　cultivate　its　pleasures。　　What　are　yours；　just　now；　Bernard？　Is　n't　it　supposed　that　in　Paris　one　must　amuse　one's　self？　How　have　you　been　amusing　yourself？〃

〃I　have　been　leading　a　very　quiet　life；〃　said　Bernard。

〃I　notice　that　's　what　people　always　say　when　they　have　been　particularly　dissipated。　　What　have　you　done？　　Whom　have　you　seen　that　one　knows？〃

Bernard　was　silent　a　moment。

〃I　have　seen　some　old　friends　of　yours；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃I　have　seen　Mrs。　Vivian　and　her　daughter。〃

〃Ah！〃　　Gordon　made　this　exclamation；　and　then　stopped　short。　Bernard　looked　at　him；　but　Gordon　was　looking　away；　his　eyes　had　caught　some　one　in　the　crowd。　　Bernard　followed　the　direction　they　had　taken；　and　then　Gordon　went　on：　〃Talk　of　the　devilexcuse　the　adage！　　Are　not　those　the　ladies　in　question？〃

Mrs。　Vivian　and　her　daughter　were；　in　fact；　seated　among　a　great　many　other　quiet　people；　in　a　couple　of　hired　chairs；　at　the　edge　of　the　great　avenue。　They　were　turned　toward　our　two　friends；　and　when　Bernard　distinguished　them；　in　the　well…dressed　multitude；　they　were　looking　straight　at　Gordon　Wright。

〃They　see　you！〃　said　Bernard。

〃You　say　that　as　if　I　wished　to　run　away；〃　Gordon　answered。　〃I　don't　want　to　run　away；　on　the　contrary；　I　want　to　speak　to　them。〃

〃That　's　easily　done；〃　said　Bernard；　and　they　advanced　to　the　two　ladies。

Mrs。　Vivian　and　her　daughter　rose　from　their　chairs　as　they　came；　they　had　evidently　rapidly　exchanged　observations；　and　had　decided　that　it　would　facilitate　their　interview　with　Gordon　Wright　to　receive　him　standing。　　He　made　his　way　to　them　through　the　crowd；　blushing　deeply；　as　he　always　did　when　excited；　then　he　stood　there　bare…headed；　shaking　hands　with　each　of　them；　with　a　fixed　smile；　and　with　nothing；　apparently；　to　say。　　Bernard　watched　Angela's　face；　she　was　giving　his　companion　a　beautiful　smile。　　Mrs。　Vivian　was　delicately　cordial。

〃I　was　sure　it　was　you；〃　said　Gordon　at　last。　　〃We　were　just　talking　of　you。〃

〃Did　Mr。　Longueville　deny　it　was　we？〃　asked　Mrs。　Vivian；　archly；　〃after　we　had　supposed　that　we　had　made　an　impression　on　him！〃

〃I　knew　you　were　in　Pariswe　were　in　the　act　of　talking　of　you；〃　Gordon　went　on。　　〃I　am　very　glad　to　see　you。〃

Bernard　had　shaken　hands　with　Angela；　looking　at　her　intently；　and　in　her　eyes；　as　his　own　met　them；　it　seemed　to　him　that　there　was　a　gleam　of　mockery。　　At　whom　was　she　mocking　at　Gordon；　or　at　himself？　　Bernard　was　uncomfortable　enough　not　to　care　to　be　mocked；　but　he　felt　even　more　sorry　that　Gordon　should　be。

〃We　also　knew　you　were　comingMr。　Longueville　had　told　us；〃　said　Mrs。　Vivian；　〃and　we　have　been　expecting　the　pleasure　of　seeing　Blanche。　　Dear　little　Blanche！〃

〃Dear　little　Blanche　will　immediately　come　and　see　you；〃　Gordon　replied。

〃Immediately；　we　hope；〃　said　Mrs。　Vivian。　　〃We　shall　be　so　very　glad。〃　Bernard　perceived　that　she　wished　to　say　something　soothing　and　sympathetic　to　poor　Gordon；　having　it；　as　he　supposed；　on　her　conscience　that；　after　having　once　encouraged　him　to　regard　himself　as　indispensable　（in　the　capacity　of　son…in…law）　to　her　happiness；　she　should　now　present　to　him　the　spectacle　of　a　felicity　which　had　established　itself　without　his　aid。　　〃We　were　so　very　much　interested　in　your　marriage；〃　she　went　on。　〃We　thought　it　soso　delightful。〃

Gordon　fixed　his　eyes　on　the　ground　for　a