you would desert me."
_In_consistency may also be a jewel.

Dic concluded he was an incarnate mistake. Whichever way he turned, he
seemed to be wrong.

"I desert you?" he exclaimed. "But you returned my ring and did not even
answer my letter, and now your scorn--"

"What else could you expect?" asked the girl, in a passionate flow of
tears.

"I don't know what I expected, but I certainly did not expect this,"
answered Dic, musing on the blessed fault of inconsistency that dwells
in every normal woman's breast. "I did not expect this, or I should have
acted differently toward her after you returned the ring. I would not
have--I--I--God help me!" and he buried his face in his hands.

"You would not have done what, Dic? Tell me all." Her heart came to him
in his trouble. He had sinned, but he was suffering, and that she could
not bear.

The low, soft tones of her voice soothed him, and he answered: "I would
not have allowed her to believe I intended marrying her. I did not tell
her in words that I would, but--I can't tell you. I can't speak." He saw
Rita's face turn pale, and though his words almost choked him, he
continued, "I suppose I must pay the penalty of my sin."

He gently put the girl from him, and went to the window, where he
leaned, gazing into the street. She also rose, and stood waiting for him
to speak. After a long pause she called his name,--

"Dic!"

When he turned she was holding out her arms to him, and the next moment
they were round his neck.

After a blank hour of almost total silence in the parlor, Miss Tousy
came to the door and knocked. She had listened at the door several times
during the hour; but, hearing no enlightening words or sounds, she had
retreated in good order.

Allowing a moment to elapse after knocking, Miss Tousy called:--

"Are you still there?"

Rita had been very still there, and was vividly conscious of the fact
when Miss Tousy knocked. Going to the door, Rita opened it, saying:--

"Yes, we are still here. I'm ashamed to have kept you out so long." She
looked her shame and blushed most convincingly.

Upon hearing the knock, Dic hurried over to the window, and when Miss
Tousy entered he deluded himself into the belief that his attitude of
careless repose would induce her to conclude he had been standing there
all the afternoon. But Miss Tousy, in common with all other young
ladies, had innate knowledge upon such subjects, and possibly also a
little experience-