t you were only amusing yourself." A smile of
reviving satisfaction stole over his face. "I'm not much afraid of a
rival like that, Miss Grey--if he is my only rival."

"I don't know why you talk of a rival," the young woman answered, with a
scornful glance at him; "but I can assure you he would be the most
dangerous rival a living man could have. When I find a man like him, Mr.
Sheppard, I hope he will ask me to marry him; indeed, when I find such a
man I'll ask him to marry me--and if he be the man I take him for, he'll
refuse me. I have told you all the truth now, Mr. Sheppard, and I hope
you will think I need not say any more."

"Still, I'm not quite without hope that something may be done," Mr.
Sheppard said. "How if I were to study your hero's ways and try to be
like him, Miss Grey?"

A great brown heavy velvety bee at the moment came booming along, his
ponderous flight almost level with the ground and not far above it. He
sailed in and out among the trees and branches, now burying himself for
a few seconds in some hollow part of a trunk, and then plodding through
air again.

"Do you think it would be of any use, Mr. Sheppard," she calmly asked,
"if that honest bee were to study the ways of the eagle?"

"You are not complimentary, Miss Grey," he said, reddening.

"No: I don't believe in compliments: I very much prefer truth."

"Still there are ways of conveying the truth--and of course I never
professed to be anything very great and heroic----"

He was decidedly hurt now.

"Mr. Sheppard," she said, in a softer and more appealing tone, "I don't
want to quarrel with you or with anybody, and please don't drive me on
to make myself out any worse than I am. I don't care about you, and I
never could. We never could get on together. I don't care for any man--I
don't like men at all. I wouldn't marry you if you were an emperor. But
I don't say anything against you; at least I wouldn't if you would only
let me alone. I am very unhappy sometimes--almost always now; but at
least I mean to make no one unhappy but myself."

"That's what comes of books and poetry and solitary walks and nonsense!
Why can't you listen to the advice of those who love you?"

She turned upon him angrily again.

"Well, I am not speaking of myself now, but of your--your people, who
only desire your good. Mr. Saulsbury, Mrs. Saulsbury----"

"Once for all, Mr. Sheppard, I shall not take their advice; and if you
would have me think of you