I had just left the office when I ran into Pembroke, who was in the act

of mounting the stairs. It was Saturday morning. Phyllis had left

town.

"Hello!" he cried. "A moment more, and I should have missed you, and

then you would not have learned a piece of news."

"News?"

"Yes. I have made up my mind not to go home till February."

"What changed your plans so suddenly?" I asked.

"My conscience."

"In heaven's name, what has your conscience to do with your plans?"

"Well, you see, my conscience would not permit me to meet such a

remarkable woman as Miss Landors without becoming better acquainted

with her." He swung his cane back and forth.

"This is very sudden," said I, lighting a cigar. "When did it happen?"

"What time did she come into your office the other day?"

"It must have been after eleven."

"Then it happened about eleven-fifteen." Pembroke's eyes were dancing.

"Do you--er--think there are any others?"

"Thousands," said I, "only--" I turned the end of my cigar around to

see if the light had proved effective.

"Only what?"

"Only she won't have them."

"Then there is really a chance?"

"When a woman is not married there is always a chance," said I, wisely.

"But let me tell you, cousin mine, she has a very high ideal. The man

who wins her must be little less than a demigod and a little more than

a man. Indeed, her ideal is so high that I did not reach it by a good

foot."

Pembroke looked surprised. "She--ah--rejected--"

"I did not say that I had proposed to her," said I.

"If you haven't, why haven't you?"

"It is strange." As his face assumed an anxious tinge, I laughed. "My

dear relative, go ahead and win her, if you can; you have my best

wishes. She is nothing to me. There was a time--ah, well, we all can

look back and say that. If it isn't one woman it's another."

Sunshine came into Pembroke's face again. "Ideal or not ideal, I am

going to make the effort."

"Success to you!" patting his shoulder. He was good to look at, and it

was my opinion that Phyllis might do worse. We miss a good deal in

this world by being over particular.




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