d
not cause trouble to those who have been so good to me.'

'No, you will not do anything of the kind, unless you wish me to go
after you. I shall tell my father that I will be off to sea again, and
then I need not trouble you any more.'

'I will not stay, Mr Owen, to make mischief; so if you will only please
to stop at home with your parents I will go away.'

'I shall not please to do anything of the kind, for I only stayed so
long on your account, and this is the reward I get.'

Owen was in a passion, and vainly striving to keep it down. His face was
flushed, he looked angrily and moodily upon the drooping head of Gladys
as it bent lower and lower over the poor cow upon which she was leaning.
He suddenly seized her hand, and exclaimed,--

'I am not used to be refused in this cool sort of way, and I don't
believe there ever was a woman in the world who doesn't wish to get
married to some one or other. Now whether you mean to have me or not is
not the question I am going to ask; but whether you have any other
lover, or ever had one that you prefer to me?--Tell me this, and I shall
be satisfied.'

Gladys tried to draw away her hand from the impetuous young man, but he
held it fast.

'You needn't be afraid; I would not hurt a hair of your head. And if you
knew what I am feeling now at this moment you will tell me the truth.
Will you answer me a few questions?'

'Yes, Mr Owen, if I can without doing or saying what is wrong.'

Owen looked Gladys again in the face, as she slightly raised her head to
answer his question. Why that burning blush? Why those bright,
expressive eyes, if she did not care for him? For a moment he had hope,
and pressed the hand he held. Again she bent over the cow that divided
them, and tried to withdraw her hand.

At any other time Owen would have laughed at the notion of making an
offer, divided from his beloved by a fine Alderney cow, but now he was
too much in earnest for laughing.

'Gladys, do you love my brother Rowland?' he asked.

Gladys now looked at him in unfeigned astonishment as she answered,--

'No, Mr Owen; surely I have never given you reason to suppose so. A
grand gentleman like him!'

'But there is a still grander of whom I am jealous,' continued Owen.
'Colonel Vaughan, I have often seen him here upon every excuse--and
always to look at you. I have seen him, and know it well. Do you care
for this great gentleman?'

'Oh! no sir,' said Gladys, sadly. 'How can you su