isyoungdandywhowasmakinglovetohereanhernogood.Hewasagentleman,aedhimforthat,hatedhimthroughsomecuriousrastinctforwhichhecouldnotat,andwhichforthatreasonwasallthemoredominantwithinhim.Hewassciousalsooftheshallownessandvanityofhismothersnature,andinthatsawinfiniteperilforSibylandSibylshappiness.Childrenbeginbylovingtheirparents;astheygrowoldertheyjudgethem;sometimestheyfivethem.

    Hismother!Hehadsomethingonhismindtoaskofher,somethingthathehadbroodedonformanymonthsofsilence.Acephrasethathehadheardatthetheatre,awhisperedshathadreachedhisearsonenightashewaitedatthestage-door,hadsetlooseatrainofhorriblethoughts.Heremembereditasifithadbeenthelashofahunting-cropacrosshisface.Hisbrowsknittogetherintoawedgelikefurrow,andwithatwitchofpaihisunderlip.

    "YouarenotlisteningtoawordIamsaying,Jim,"criedSibyl,"andIammakidelightfulplansforyourfuture.Dosaysomething."

    "Whatdoyouwaosay?"

    "Oh!thatyouwillbeagoodboyandnetus,"sheanswered,smilingathim.

    Heshruggedhisshoulders."YouaremorelikelytetmethanIamtetyou,Sibyl."

    Sheflushed."Whatdoyoumean,Jim?"sheasked.

    "Youhaveanewfriend,Ihear.Whoishe?Whyhaveyounottoldmeabouthim?Hemeansyounogood."

    "Stop,Jim!"sheexclaimed."Youmustnotsayanythingagainsthim.Ilovehim."

    "Why,youdontevenknowhisname,"ahelad."Whoishe?Ihavearighttoknow."

    "HeiscalledPrinceCharming.Dontyoulikethename.Oh!yousillybo