After All.

" Do you mean to say she ' s false ? " stammered Humberton . " I mean to say nothing ; false , how can she be false to one she has only seen a few hours ? " " But that was sufficient to —¦—" " Sufficient to the devil i I tell you we'll have no romancing here . "

"Mr . Phane , you ' ve been my friend , so far , " said Arthur , now white with suppressed passion , " ancl I should not like to make you my enemy . " " Mr . Humberton , just let's talk a little sense and don't interrupt me , for my words are decisive . I was young myself once , of course ; I know you fancy you ' re different , but I tell you you ' re too young to think of my daughteror she of you . I don ' t know what the future may turn out for you

, , but it depends mainly upon yourself how you will succeed . You have a fair start in life , and if you continue to work steadily there ' s very little doubt that you will soon earn a position ; your feat of yesterday is a good sign . But until you have gained a position yon must not think of my daughter , ancl in the meantime she is free to act as she likes , ancl you likewise . Do not be too much elated with sudden success , but continue to work steadily . "

" But could not our relations remain the same , meanwhile , " urged Humberton , now less excited , but terribly anxious . " No ; a thousand times , no . " thundered Mr . Phane ; " I should not think of my daughter contracting any such relations for at least three years to come . You neither of you know your own minds yet . You must forget her . " " Never ! " said Humbertondeterminedlybut pale as death .

, , " Fool ! are you mad ? Mr . Humberton , I ' m sorry to speak in this way , hut just go down to your work and think over what I have said , for nothing can alter me . Be a man , and then you may some clay win a woman . " " I go , sir ; but let me tell you , your daughter " " Not another word—go ! " shouted Mr Phane , stamping his foot with

rage . Arthur ' s eyes flashed and he bit his lips as a rush of conflicting emotions swayed him ; but he conquered himself , ancl turning his head away staggered to the door . When he reached the room below , his soul full of despair , all saw at once that something more than usual had affected him ; but they forebore to say anything , hazarding a guess at the cause . Bulliker ' s little red eyes alone glistened with pleasure at Arthur ' s discomfiture .

Humberton went out into the street and tried to collect his thoughts ; he was glad he had not made a fool of himself with Mr . Phane , though he felt very bitter against him ; but he was his benefactor ; that , however , weighed very little when he crossed his affairs in love . Of course , he had every ri ght to do as he liked with his own daughter , but it was tyrannical and barbarous , he said ; ancl he quoted Shakespeare to uphold his opinion . Three years ! it was enough to fill the stoutest heart with despair . How

could she wait all that time for him , without a sign or word from him ? No ; he felt that it would be folly to hope it on such a short intimacy as theirs , ancl he despaired , madly despaired . It was no use working ancl waiting . No ; he would elope : but that would be useless , he had no means to support her , and by no means knew whether she ivould be a consenting party ; in fact , he knew there was no hope . What could he do ? there was nothing but misery before

him . What was the use of all his talent and industry if he lost her ? What did he care for fame without her ? It was an empty bauble ! As for Phane , he was a tyrant ; what right had he to exercise supreme control over his daughter ' s affections ? If she loved , too , why was she withheld by her parents ? After all her father ' s kindness , too , to treat him as though he were only a paid slave , ancl not worth y of his daughter ! In fact , Arthur was miserable , madly miserable , ancl these incoherent and . nconsisfcent soliloquies of his , rushed through his brain as they listed , without control . But- he could not help listening to them , and their import drove him