"I am looking for something to study," she answered. "What writers have helped you most?"
"Helped me most!—how do you mean?"
"Well, helped you to be upright, you know, to make good resolutions and keep straight."
"Thank you," he said; "I have not felt the need of good resolutions, and this is the first hint I have had that I require any. If you will inquire among my friends, I fancy you will find that I have the credit of going pretty straight as it is."
"O Dan!" Beth exclaimed, "you quite misunderstand me. I never meant to insinuate that you are not straight. I was only thinking of the way in which we all fall short of our ideals."
"Ideals be hanged!" said Dan. "If a man does his duty, that's ideal enough, isn't it?"
"I should think so," Beth said pacifically.
Dan went to the mantelpiece, and stood there, studying himself with interest in the glass. "A lady told me the other day I looked like a military man," he said, smoothing his glossy black hair and twisting the ends of his long moustache.
"Well, I think you look much more military than medical," Beth replied, considering him.
"I'm glad of that," he said, smiling at himself complacently.