yours, Eleanor."

"And what am I?"

The tears came into her eyes with a little vexed earnestness, for she
fancied that Mr. Rhys would not speak _because_ the fruit was hers. His
manner changed again, to the deep tenderness which he had shewn so
frequently; holding her close and looking down into her face; not
answering at once; half enjoying, half soothing, the feeling he had
raised.

"Eleanor," he said, "I do not want that fruit."

"Tell me what to do with it."

"If you like to send some of those grapes to sister Balliol, at the
other house, I think they would do a great deal of good."

"I will just take out a few for you, and I will send the whole basket
over there just as it is. Is there anybody to take it?"

"Do not save any for me."

"Why not?"

"Because I do not want anything more than I have got."

"I suppose I may do about that as I please?" said Eleanor, laughing a
little.

"No--you may not. I only want this bunch that I have in my hand, for a
poor sick fellow whom I think they will comfort. If you feel as I do,
and like to send the rest over to the mission house, I think they will
be well and gratefully used."

"But Rowland, why did you not tell me that just at first?" she said a
little wistfully.

"Do you feel as I do? Tell me that first."

But as Eleanor was not ready with her answer to this question, of
course her own got the go-by. Mr. Rhys laughed at her a little, and
then told her she might get the house ready for dinner. Very much
Eleanor wished she could rather get the dinner ready for the house; yet
somehow she had an instinctive knowledge that it would be no use to ask
him; and she had a curious unwillingness to make the request.

"Do you know," she said, looking up in his face, "I do not know how it
is, but you are the only person I ever was afraid of, where my natural
courage had full play?"

"Does that sentiment possess you at present?"

"Yes--a little."

He laughed again, and said it was wholesome; and went off without
seeming in the least dismayed by the intelligence. If Eleanor had
ventured that remark as a feeler, she was utterly discomfited. She went
about her pretty work of getting the little table ready and acquainting
herself with the details of her cupboard arrangements, feeling a little
amused at herself, and with many deeper thoughts about Mr. Rhys and the
basket of fruit.

They were sitting in the study after dinner, alternately talking and
studying Fijian, w