_Mr. R._--"Well, until they miss us, and run back to pick us up, I shall be obliged to ask your indulgence. I will try not to disturb you; I would go out and stand on the platform, but it's raining." _Miss G._, listening to the rain-fall on the roof.--"Why, so it is!" Timidly, "Did you notice when the car stopped?" _Mr. R._--"No." He rises and goes out at the rear door, comes back, and sits down again. _Miss G._ rises and goes to the large mirror to wipe away her tears. She glances at Mr. Richards, who does not move. She sits down in a seat nearer him than the chair she has left. After some faint murmurs and hesitations, she asks, "Will you please tell me why you went out just now?" _Mr. R._, with indifference.--"Yes. I went to see if the rear signal was out." _Miss G._, after another hesitation.--"Why?" _Mr. R._--"Because, if it wasn't out, some train might run into us from that direction." _Miss G._, tremulously.--"Oh! And was it?" _Mr. R._, dryly.--"Yes." _Miss G._ returns to her former place with a wounded air, and for a moment neither speaks. Finally she asks very meekly, "And there's no danger from the front?" _Mr. R._, coldly.--"No." _Miss G._, after some little noises and movements meant to catch Mr. R.'s attention.--"Of course, I never meant to imply that you were _intentionally_ careless or forgetful." _Mr. R._, still very coldly.--"Thank you." _Miss G._--"I always did justice to your good-heartedness, Allen; you're perfectly lovely that way; and I know that you would be sorry if you _knew_ you had wounded my feelings, however accidentally." She droops her head so as to catch a sidelong glimpse of his face, and sighs, while she nervously pinches the top of her parasol, resting the point on the floor. Mr. R. makes no answer. "That about the cigar-case might have been a mistake; I saw that myself, and, as you explain it, why, it was certainly very kind and very creditable to--to your thoughtfulness. It _was_ thoughtful." _Mr. R._--"I am grateful for your good opinion." _Miss G._--"But do you think it was exactly--it was quite--nice, not to tell me that your brother's engagement was to be kept, when you know, Allen, I can't bear to blunder in such things?" Tenderly, "_Do_ you? You _can't_ say it was." _Mr. R._--"I never said it was." _Miss G._, plaintively.--"No, Allen. That's what I always admired in your character. You always owned up. Don't you think it's easier for men to own up than it is for women?" _Mr. R._--"I don't know. I never knew any woman to do it." _Miss G._--"O yes, Allen! You know I _often_ own up." _Mr. R._--"No, I don't." _Miss G._--"Oh, how can you bear to say so? When I'm rash, or anything of that kind, you know I acknowledge it." _Mr. R._--"Do you acknowledge it now?" _Miss G._--"Why, how can I, when I haven't _been_ rash? _What_ have I been rash about?" _Mr. R._--"About the cigar-case, for example."