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street and grasping Ralph's hand （all his student friends called him the
Baroness）； 〃in the name of this illustrious company； allow me to salute
you。 But why the deucewhat is the matter with you？ If you have the
Katzenjammer；＇7＇ soda…water is the thing。 Come along；it's my treat！〃
＇7＇ Katzenjammer is the sensation a man has the morning after a
carousal。
The students instantly thronged around Ralph； who stood distractedly
swinging his cane and smiling idiotically。
〃I am not quite well；〃 said he； 〃leave me alone。〃
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
〃No； to be sure； you don't look well；〃 cried a jolly youth； against
whom Bertha had frequently warned him； 〃but a glass of sherry will soon
restore you。 It would be highly immoral to leave you in this condition
without taking care of you。〃
Ralph again vainly tried to remonstrate； but the end was； that he
reluctantly followed。
He had always been a conspicuous figure in the student world； but that
night he astonished his friends by his eloquence； his reckless humor； and
his capacity for drinking。 He made a speech for 〃Woman；〃 which
bristled with wit； cynicism； and sarcastic epigrams。 One young man；
named Vinter； who was engaged； undertook to protest against his
sweeping condemnation； and declared that Ralph； who was a Universal
favorite among the ladies； ought to be the last to revile them。
〃If；〃 he went on； 〃the Baroness should propose to six well…known
ladies here in this city whom I could mention； I would wager six
Johannisbergers； and an equal amount of champagne； that every one of
them would accept him。〃
The others loudly applauded this proposal； and Ralph accepted the
wager。 The letters were written on the spot； and immediately dispatched。
Toward morning； the merry carousal broke up； and Ralph was conducted
in triumph to his home。
III。
Two days later； Ralph again knocked on Bertha's door。 He looked
paler than usual； almost haggard； his immaculate linen was a little
crumpled； and he carried no cane； his lips were tightly compressed； and
his face wore an air of desperate resolution。
〃It is done；〃 he said； as he seated himself opposite her。 〃I am going。〃
〃Going！〃 cried she； startled at his unusual appearance。 〃How；
where？〃
〃To America。 I sail to…night。 I have followed your advice； you see。
I have cut off the last bridge behind me。〃
〃But； Ralph；〃 she exclaimed； in a voice of alarm。 〃Something
dreadful must have happened。 Tell me quick； I must know it。〃
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
〃No； nothing dreadful；〃 muttered he； smiling bitterly。 〃I have made a
little scandal； that is all。 My father told me to…day to go to the devil； if I
chose； and my mother gave me five hundred dollars to help me along on
the way。 If you wish to know； here is the explanation。〃
And he pulled from his pocket six perfumed and carefully folded notes；
and threw them into her lap。
〃Do you wish me to read them？〃 she asked； with growing surprise。
〃Certainly。 Why not？〃
She hastily opened one note after the other； and read。
〃But； Ralph；〃 she cried； springing up from her seat； while her eyes
flamed with indignation； 〃what does this mean？ What have you done？〃
〃I didn't think it needed any explanation；〃 replied he； with feigned
indifference。 〃I proposed to them all； and； you see； they all accepted me。
I received all these letters to…day。 I only wished to know whether the
whole world regarded me as such a worthless scamp as you told me I
was。〃
She did not answer； but sat mutely staring at him； fiercely crumpling a
rose…colored note in her hand。 He began to feel uncomfortable under her
gaze； and threw himself about uneasily in his chair。
〃Well；〃 said he； at length； rising； 〃I suppose there is nothing more。
Good…bye。〃
〃One moment； Mr。 Grim；〃 demanded she； sternly。 〃Since I have
already said so much； and you have obligingly revealed to me a new side
of your character； I claim the right to correct the opinion I expressed of
you at our last meeting。〃
〃I am all attention。〃
〃I did think； Mr。 Grim；〃 began she； breathing hard； and steadying
herself against the table at which she stood； 〃that you were a very selfish
manan embodiment of selfishness； absolute and supreme； but I did not
believe that you were wicked。〃
〃And what convinced you that I was selfish； if I may ask？〃
〃What convinced me？〃 repeated she； in a tone of inexpressible
contempt。 〃When did you ever act from any generous regard for others？
What good did you ever do to anybody？〃
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
〃You might ask； with equal justice； what good I ever did to myself。〃
〃In a certain sense； yes； because to gratify a mere momentary wish is
hardly doing one's self good。〃
〃Then I have； at all events； followed the Biblical precept； and treated
my neighbor very much as I treat myself。〃
〃I did think；〃 continued Bertha； without heeding the remark； 〃that you
were at bottom kind…hearted； but too hopelessly well…bred ever to commit
an act of any decided complexion； either good or bad。 Now I see that I
have misjudged you； and that you are capable of outraging the most sacred
feelings of a woman's heart in mere wantonness； or for the sake of
satisfying a base curiosity； which never could have entered the mind of an
upright and generous man。〃
The hard； benumbed look in Ralph's face thawed in the warmth of her
presence； and her words； though stern； touched a secret spring in his heart。
He made two or three vain attempts to speak； then suddenly broke down；
and cried：
〃Bertha； Bertha； even if you scorn me； have patience with me； and
listen。〃
And he told her； in rapid； broken sentences； how his