m going this very week."

The bright light that shone from the face at which she looked made her
waver for a moment, but she found strength to answer that he must not
speak to Mr. Fern about her--now, or at any other time. She did not want
to marry, or to be engaged. She wanted to live with her father, and take
care of him, and she wanted nothing else.

"Millie will marry," she added, as a parting thrust, meant to be very
direct and bitter. "One of us ought to stay with papa."

For a while he was too overwhelmed by her changed attitude to make a
sensible reply. When it dawned on him that she meant what she said, he
appealed to her to take it back. He could not bear the thought of giving
her up, or even of waiting much longer for the fulfillment of his hopes.
He spoke in the most passionate tone, and his whole being seemed wrought
up by his earnestness. The girl was constantly thinking, however, that
this was the same way he had addressed Millicent, and that there was no
trust to be placed in him.

"Calm yourself," she said, when he grew violent. "I have tried to be
honest with you. I have thought of this matter a great deal. You will
admit that it is of some importance to me."

"To you!" he echoed. "Yes, and to me! I do not care whether I live or
die, if I am to lose you!"

She wanted to ask him if he had told Millie the same thing, but she
could not without making an explanation she did not like to give.

"There are others," was all she said. "Others, who will make you
happier, and be better fitted for you--in your career as a writer."

He never thought her allusion had reference to any particular person,
and he answered that there was no one, there never could be any one, for
him, but her. He had never loved before, he never should love again. And
she listened, thinking what a capacity for falsehood and tragic acting
he had developed.

After two hours of this most disagreeable scene, Roseleaf left the
house, moody and despondent. It would have taken little at that moment
to make him throw himself into the bosom of the Hudson, or send a bullet
through his brain.

On the way to the station he met Mr. Weil, who could not help asking
what was the matter.

"Oh, it's all up!" he answered. "She has refused me, and I am going to
the devil as quick as I can."

"What are you talking about?" exclaimed the other, staring at him. "You
don't mean--Daisy!"

"That's just what I mean. I went there to tell her of my goo