Ere she was aware of his intention, he pushed the ottoman beyond her reach, and dexterously catching her hand, took the gold thimble from her finger and dropped it into his vest pocket.

“Perish the fetich of needle-work, crochet and knitting!  To-day at least it shall not come between us;—­and I claim your eyes, your undivided attention.  Now tell me how many of my rivals, how many audacious suitors you have held at bay, by these gay Penelope webs woven in my absence?”

“Has Ulysses the right to be curious?  Should not memories of Calypso incline him to unlock the fetters of Penelope?”

“Did she ever for one instant deem the silken cords she hugged to her loyal, tender heart—­fetters?  Sweet, patient incarnation of unquestioning fidelity, she stands the eternal antithesis of Mrs. Caudle.  From Kittie’s letter, I inferred you were not well; but certainly, my dear Leo, I never saw you look more lovely than to-day.”

“Just now Kittie’s perceptions are awry, dazzled by the rose light that wrap? her world.  Has Prince arrived?”

“Yes, he came yesterday, and my little sister is entirely and overwhelmingly happy, for he is literally her Prince.  Physically he is much improved; has developed surprisingly, but has the shy, taciturn manner of a student, and is, I fear, a hopeless bookworm.”

“Why should his literary taste disquiet you?  He went to Germany to foster his scholarly inclination.”

“Why?  Why should a man apprentice himself to a carpenter, and become an expert joiner, when he can never obtain the tools requisite to enable him to work successfully?  His aspirations run along the grooves of science; and after dear little Kittie, his favorite Goddess is Biology.  Trained in the laboratory of a German scientist, where every imaginable facility for researches in vivisection, and for the investigation of certain biological problems was afforded him, he lands in America empty-handed, and behold my carpenter minus tools.”

“Having fitted himself for the profession, you surely will not attempt now to discourage or dissuade him.”

“The logic of impecuniosity will doubtless accomplish more than the dissuasion of friends.  Microscopic inspection of red and white corpuscles, of virus, tissues, protoplasm and chlorophyl is probably very interesting to lovers of microbes, and students of segmentation, but such abstract pursuits appertain to purple and fine linen.  A profession means much; but ability to practise, infinitely more.  Just now the paramount problem is, how Prince can best make his bread.  Six months ago, he was prospectively so rich that he could indulge the whim of blowing scientific soap-bubbles labelled with abstruse symbols; at present, necessity directs his attention to paying his board bills.”

“I thought a liberal allowance had been settled upon him, and ample provision made for his future?”

“So there certainly was, on paper; but the destruction of the record invalidated the gift.”  “All the world knows that he has the rights of an adopted son.”