“Let ’em talk,” was the rejoinder.

“Oh, yes,” she replied.  “Of course you don’t care.  The more a man is talked about the better he likes it, and the more he’s thought of.  But it’s death to a woman.”

“Well, I don’t care any way,” said JEFFRY.

“Yes you do care too,” she replied.  S’posen it should get to the ears of that rich widow you’re engaged to.  ’Twould be all up with you there, sure, JEFF.  She ain’t burdened with principle, the Lord knows, but she’s got jealousy enough to break the match short off, and kill you besides, if she hears of it.

“And she’ll hear of it anyhow, if they keep up their infernal clack,” said he fiercely.  “I’d like to choke the whole confounded pack.”

“The talk would all die out,” said ANN slowly, “if I should go away.”

“Any fool can see that,” replied he.  “What do you mean?”

“I’ve been thinking of going,” she continued, “for six months.  I’m a poor relation, and Mrs. LADLE hates me.  And as for BELINDA, she has so many good clothes, I can’t take any comfort seeing her round.”

“Where to?” inquired JEFFRY incredulously.

“Oh, anywhere,” she replied.  “I can dance a jig, you know.  I’ll go to New York, and let myself as the ’Eminent and Graceful Queen of Terpsichore, imported from Paris at a cost of Forty Thousand Dollars in Gold.’  And then I’ll make a tour of the New England States.  Or I’ll learn to play the banjo and get off slang phrases, and then I’ll appear as ’The Beautiful and Gifted Artist, ANNETTA BRUMMETTA, who has, by her guileless vivacity, charmed our most Fashionable Circles.’  Or I’ll go as Assistant Teacher in a Select Boarding School for Young Ladies.  I ain’t proud, you know.”

JEFFRY grinned.  “Let me advise you,” said he, “to go right off to-morrow.  I’ll help you pack your trunk inside of an hour, if you say so.”

“That ain’t the point,” she retorted sharply.  “I ain’t got rid of so easily as that, I tell you.”

“What do you mean by that?” he inquired, with a scowl.

“I mean just this,” she returned.  “I won’t go at all if you don’t do what’s right by me.  If you’ll agree to my terms I’ll go, and not without.”

“Your terms!” said he, with a sneer.  “Well, that is a go.  What may your ‘terms’ be?” he continued, derisively.

“Marriage,” replied she; “private if you say so, and a remittance of fifty dollars a month for six months.”

He laughed in her face.  “Marry you?  Well, I guess not,” said he.  “Do you take me for an idiot?”

“You ain’t obliged to stick by it,” she continued.  “We’re in Indiana, ain’t we?  We’ll take a minister and a lawyer along with us.  While the minister is marrying us, the lawyer can be at work on the divorce papers.  When you are JEFFRY MAULBOY again, a single man, and I’m once more ANN BRUMMET. spinster, I’ll go away and never trouble you again.  There’s no risk.  I go in ANN BRUMMET, and come out ANN BRUMMET, all inside of two hours, and there’s nobody to tell of it.  The lawyer and minister are used to it, you see, and the secret’s safe with them.”