"If there is one thing I detest," says Cyril, throwing himself back in his chair, with an impatient movement, when he has closed the door upon them, "it is a vindictive woman. I pity the man who marries Florence Beauchamp."
"You are rather hard upon her, are you not?" says Guy. "I have known her very good-natured."
"Lucky you! I cannot recall many past acts of kindness on her part."
"So you met Mrs. Arlington?" says Guy, carelessly.
"Yes; one day I restored to her her dog; and to-day she offered me shelter from the rain, simply because she couldn't help it. There our acquaintance rests."
"Where is the rose she gave you?" asks Guy, with a laugh, in which, after a moment's struggle, Cyril joins.
"Don't lose your heart to her, old boy," Guy says, lightly; but Cyril well knows he has meaning in what he says.
* * * * * * *