There Are Heroisms All Round Us

           Mr.Hungerton,herfather,reallywasthemosttactlesspersonuponearth,—afluffy,feathery,untidycockatooofaman,perfectlygood-natured,butabsolutelycentereduponhisownsillyself.IfanythingcouldhavedrivenmefromGladys,itwouldhavebeenthethoughtofsuchafather-inlaw.IamconvincedthathereallybelievedinhisheartthatIcameroundtotheChestnutsthreedaysaweekforthepleasureofhiscompany,andveryespeciallytohearhisviewsuponbimetallism,asubjectuponwhichhewasbywayofbeinganauthority.

           ForanhourormorethateveningIlistenedtohismonotonouschirrupaboutbadmoneydrivingoutgood,thetokenvalueofsilver,thedepreciationoftherupee,andthetruestandardsofexchange.

           "Suppose,"hecriedwithfeebleviolence,"thatallthedebtsintheworldwerecalledupsimultaneously,andimmediatepaymentinsistedupon,—whatunderourpresentconditionswouldhappenthen?"

           Igavetheself-evidentanswerthatIshouldbearuinedman,uponwhichhejumpedfromhischair,reprovedmeformyhabituallevity,whichmadeitimpossibleforhimtodiscussanyreasonablesubjectinmypresence,andbouncedoffoutoftheroomtodressforaMasonicmeeting.

           AtlastIwasalonewithGladys,andthemomentofFatehadcome!AllthateveningIhadfeltlikethesoldierwhoawaitsthesignalwhichwillsendhimonaforlornhope;hopeofvictoryandfearofrepulsealternatinginhismind.

           Shesatwiththatproud,delicateprofileofhersoutlinedagainsttheredcurtain.Howbeautifulshewas!Andyethowaloof!Wehadbeenfriends,quitegoodfriends;butnevercouldIgetbeyondthesamecomradeshipwhichImighthaveestablishedwithoneofmyfellow-reportersupontheGazette,—perfectlyfrank,perfectlykindly,andperfectlyunsexual.