heyreachedtheAchillesStatue,sheturnedround.Thereityihatbecamelaughteronherlips.Sheshookherheadathim."Youarefoolish,Jim,utterlyfoolish;abad-temperedboy,thatisall.Howyousaysuchhorriblethings?Youdontknowwhatyouaretalkingabout.Youaresimplyjealousandunkind.Ah!Iwishyouwouldfallinlove.Lovemakespeoplegood,andwhatyousaidwaswicked."

    "Iamsixteen,"heanswered,"andIknowwhatIamabout.Motherisoyou.Shedoesntuandhowtolookafteryou.IwishnowthatIwasnotgoingtoAustraliaatall.Ihaveagreatmindtochuckthewholethingup.Iwould,ifmyarticleshadntbeensigned."

    "Oh,dontbesoserious,Jim.YouarelikeoheheroesofthosesillymelodramasMotherusedtobesofondofagin.Iamnotgoingtoquarrelwithyou.Ihaveseenhim,andoh!toseehimisperfecthappiness.Wewontquarrel.IknowyouwouldneverharmanyoneIlove,wouldyou?"

    "Notaslongasyoulovehim,Isuppose,"wasthesullenanswer.

    "Ishalllovehimforever!"shecried.

    "Andhe?"

    "Forever,too!"

    "Hehadbetter."

    Sheshrankfromhim.Thenshelaughedandputherhandonhisarm.Hewasmerelyaboy.

    AttheMarbleArchtheyhailedanomnibus,whichleftthemclosetotheirshabbyhomeionRoad.ItwasafterfiveoclodSibylhadtoliedownforacoupleofhoursbeforeag.Jiminsistedthatsheshoulddoso.Hesaidthathewouldsoonerpartwithherwhentheirmotherwasnotpresent.Shewouldbesuretomakease,aestedsesofeverykind.

    InSybilsownroomtheyparted.Therewasjealousyintheladsheart,andafiercemurderoushatredofthestrangerwho,asitseemedto