178 - The Little Minister

only came here for the money. Well, you have
got it. Good-bye.”

“You know that was not what I meant,”
said Gavin, stepping after her. “I have told
you already that, whatever other people say,
I trust you. I believe in you, Babbie.”

“ Was that what you were saying to the tree? -
asked the Egyptian, demurely. Then, perhaps
thinking it wisest not to press this point, she con-
tinued, irrelevantly, “It seems such a pity that
you are a minister.”

“A pity to be a minister ! ” exclaimed Gavin,
indignantly. “Why, why, you,— why, Babbie,
how have you been brought up?”’

“Tn a curious way,” Babbie answered, shortly,
“but I can’t tell you about that just now. Would
you like to hear all about me?” Suddenly she
seemed to have become confidential.

“Do you really think me a gypsy?” she
asked.

“| have tried not toask myself that question.”

“Why?”

“ Because it seems like doubting your word.”

«<1 don’t see how you can think of me at all
without wondering who I am.”

“ No, and so I try not to think of you at all.”

“ Oh, I don’t know that you need do that.”

“T have not quite succeeded.”

The Egyptian’s pique had vanished, but she
may have thought that the conversation was
becoming dangerous, for she said, abruptly :

«Well, I sometimes think about you.”

«Do you?” said Gavin, absurdly gratified.
“What do you think about me?”