"No, Mrs. Sheldon; you do me injustice—I am the soul of fidelity. But you know as well as I do that Miss Dearborn will have nothing to say to me."
"'Faint heart ne'er won fair lady,' major."
"I will answer in the old couplet:
"'If she be not fair to me,
What care I how fair she be?'"
"Does that mean that you have quite abandoned the field?" asked Mrs. Sheldon, in some surprise.
"So far as Miss Dearborn is concerned—yes."
"And you don't consider yourself fickle?"
"No. The fact is, my dear Mrs. Sheldon, I can't go on loving one who doesn't care a rap for me. I could have loved your niece to the end of my life if she had reciprocated my affection; but as she does not, I shall quietly resign her."
"You are sure you won't break your heart, major?" said the widow, laughing.
"Do I look like it?"