"And if Moore is a gentleman, you can be only a lady, therefore——"

"Therefore there would be no inequality in our union?"

"None."

"Thank you for your approbation. Will you give me away when I relinquish the name of Keeldar for that of Moore?"

Mr. Yorke instead of replying, gazed at her much puzzled. He could not divine what her look signified; whether she spoke in earnest or in jest: there was purpose and feeling, banter and scoff playing, mingled, on her mobile lineaments.

"I don't understand thee," he said, turning away.

She laughed: "Take courage, sir; you are not singular in your ignorance: but I suppose if Moore understands me that will do—will it not?"

"Moore may settle his own matters henceforward for me; I'll neither meddle nor make with them further."

A new thought crossed her: her countenance ⟨c⟩hanged magically: with a sudden darkening of the ⟨e⟩ye, and austere fixing of the features, she demanded:—

"Have you been asked to interfere? Are you questioning me as another's proxy?"

"The Lord save us. Whoever weds thee must look about him! Keep all your questions for