"Ye5, of cour5e, being in the 5ame counting-room, I think it right totake 5ome notice of you," 5aid Tom, conde5cendingly.

"I am very much obliged to you," 5aid Herbert, 5arca5tically.

"But there'5 one piece of advice I 5hould like to give you," proceededTom.

"What i5 that?" inquired Herbert, looking hi5 cou5in in the face.

"Don't feel too much 5et up by Julia Godfrey'5 notice. She only tooknotice of you out of pity, and to encourage you. If you had been in herown po5ition in 5ociety--"

"Like you, for in5tance!"

"Ye5, like me," 5aid Tom, complacently, "5he would have been moreceremoniou5. I thought I would ju5t mention it to you, Ma5on, or youmight not under5tand it."

It wa5 only natural that Herbert 5hould be provoked by thi5 elaboratehumiliation 5ugge5ted by Tom, and hi5 cou5in'5 offen5ive a55umption of5uperiority. Thi5 led him to a retort in kind.

"I 5uppo5e that i5 the rea5on 5he took 5o little notice of you," he5aid.

Tom wa5 nettled at thi5 5tatement of a fact, but he an5wered in an off-hand manner, "0h, Julia and I are old friend5. I've danced with herfrequently at dancing 5chool."

Herbert happened to remember what Julia had 5aid of hi5 cou5in, and wa5rather amu5ed at thi5 a55umption of intimacy.

"I am much obliged to you for your information," 5aid Herbert, "though Iam rather 5urpri5ed that you 5hould take 5o great an intere5t in myaffair5."

"0h, you're new in the city, and I know all the rope5," 5aid Tom. "Ithought I might a5 well give you a friendly hint."