Nobody

"You have a good deal to answer for, Julia."

"Now, don't, Philip! That's what George says. It is too absurd. Justbecause she has a pretty face. All you men are bewitched by prettyfaces."

"She has a good manner, too."

"Manner? She has no manner at all; and she don't know anything, out ofher garden. We have saved Tom from a great danger. It would be aterrible thing, perfectly terrible, to have him marry a girl who isnot a lady, nor even an educated woman."

"You think you could not have made a lady of her?"

"Mamma, do hear Philip! isn't he too bad? Just because that girl has alittle beauty. I wonder what there is in beauty, it turns all yourheads! Mamma, do you hear Mr. Dillwyn? he wishes we had let Tom havehis head and marry that little gardening girl."

"Indeed I do not," said Philip seriously. "I am very glad you succeededin preventing it But allow me to ask if you are sure you have succeeded? Is it quite certain Tom will not have his head after all? Hemay cheat you yet."

"O no! He's very melancholy, but he has given it up. If he don't, we'lltake him abroad in the spring. I think he has given it up. His beingmelancholy looks like it."

"True. I'll sound him when I get a chance."

The chance offered itself very soon; for Tom came in, and when Dillwynleft the house, Tom went to walk with him. They sauntered along FifthAvenue, which was pretty full of people still, enjoying the mild airand beautiful starlight.

"Tom, what did you do at the Isles of Shoals?" Mr. Dillwyn askedsuddenly.

"Did a lot of fishing. Capital trolling."

"All your fishing done on the high seas, eh?"

"All my successful fishing."

"What was the matter? Not a faint heart?"

"No. It's disgusting, the whole thing!" Tom broke out with heartyemphasis.

"You don't like to talk about it? I'll spare you, if you say so."

"I don't care what you do to me," said Tom; "and I have no objection totalk about it – to you."

Nevertheless he stopped.

"Have you changed your mind?"

"I shouldn't change my mind, if I lived to be as old as Methuselah!"

"That's right. Well, then, – the thing is going on?"

"It isn't going on! and I suppose it never will!"

"Had the lady any objection? I cannot believe that."

"I don't know," said Tom, with a big sigh. "I almost think she hadn't; but I never could find that out."

"What hindered you, old fellow?"

"My blessed relations. Julia and mother made such a row. I wouldn'thave minded the row neither; for a man must marry to please himself andnot his mother; and I believe no man ever yet married to please hissister; but, Philip, they didn't give me a minute. I could never joinher anywhere, but Julia would be round the next corner; or else Georgewould be there before me. George must put his oar in; and between themthey kept it up."

"And you think she liked you?"

Tom was silent a while.

"Well," said he at last, "I won't swear; for you never know where awoman is till you've got her; but if she didn't, all I have to say is, signs aren't good for anything."

It was Philip now who was silent, for several minutes.

"What's going to be the upshot of it?"

"O, I suppose I shall go abroad with Julia and George in the spring, and end by taking an orthodox wife some day; somebody with blue blood, and pretension, and nothing else. My people will be happy, and thefamily name will be safe."

"And what will become of her?"

"O, she's all right. She won't break her heart about me. She isn't thatsort of girl," Tom Caruthers said gloomily. "Do you know, I admire herimmensely, Philip! I believe she's good enough for anything. Maybeshe's too good. That's what her aunt hinted."

"Her aunt! Who's she?"

"She's a sort of a snapping turtle. A good sort of woman, too. I tookcounsel with her, do you know, when I found it was no use for me to tryto see Lois. I asked her if she would stand my friend. She was as sharpas a fish-hook, and about as ugly a customer; and she as good as toldme to go about my business."

"Did she give reasons for such advice?"

"O yes! She saw through Julia and mother as well as I did; and shespoke as any friend of Lois would, who had a little pride about her. Ican't blame her."

Silence fell again, and lasted while the two young men walked thelength of several blocks. Then Mr. Dillwyn began again.

"Tom, there ought to be no more shilly-shallying about this matter."

"No more! Yes, you're right. I ought to have settled it long ago, before Julia and mother got hold of it. That's where I made a mistake."

"And you think it too late?"

Tom hesitated. "It's too late. I've lost my time. She has given meup, and mother and Julia have set their hearts that I should give herup. I am not a match for them. Is a man ever a match for a woman, doyou think, Dillwyn, if she takes something seriously in hand?"

"Will you go to Europe next spring?"

"Perhaps. I suppose so."

"If you do, perhaps I will join the party – that is, if you will all letme."

So the conversation went over into another channel.

CHAPTER XVIII

MR. DILLWYN'S PLAN