"Oh, May will get over it. Come and have tea with us to-morrow, Mr. Henderson, and I will give you the opportunity of speaking to May alone." Henderson was only too glad to promise to avail himself of this invitation. And on the following day he arrived at Woodside, excited and eager. And after tea was over Mrs. Churchill proceeded to carry out her little plan. She sent May into the garden alone, under the pretense that she wanted her to gather some flowers, and presently she sent young Henderson after her. May was in the very act of cutting some roses when she heard his step on the walk behind her, and she was returning to the house to avoid him, when he suddenly caught her hand. "Don't go, May," he said, in an agitated manner, "I want a few words with you." "I am busy," answered May, "I can not stay." "You must stay," went on Henderson, almost roughly. "May, how long is this to go on? How long are you going to play with me as you are playing with me now?" "I never played with you, Mr. Henderson," said May, with some dignity of manner. "Oh, yes, you did. But play or not play, will you listen to what I have got to say?" "I don't wish to listen, Mr. Henderson; nothing that you can have to say to me--" "Don't drive me mad, May!" cried the young man, passionately. "You know I love you; that I love you too well, and yet you are always cold to me." "I am sorry if--if you care for me--for I can give you nothing in return." "Nothing!" "Mr. Henderson, it is best to speak the truth." "Your parents wish it," interrupted Henderson, eagerly; "your mother sent me to speak to you." "I have no mother," said May, raising her head, proudly; "if you mean my father's wife, she has no right to interfere with my affairs." "And this is all you have to say to me?" "Yes, except to hope you will never speak of this to me again." A half-suppressed oath broke from Henderson's lips. "You carry things with a high hand, I must say; but if this means that that fellow Temple has come between you and me, he had best take care! No one shall come between us--you have cost me too much!" An evil look came over his face as he spoke--such an evil look that May half-shuddered and hurried away, and as she entered the house she met her stepmother in the hall, who looked at her searchingly. "Have you seen Mr. Henderson? Has he spoken to you?" she asked. May felt very angry. "I wish you would not send Mr. Henderson to speak to me," she said; "I told you it was no use." "You are a foolish girl, and you should not speak to me in that manner," retorted Mrs. Churchill. "It has annoyed me very much," continued May, "about these things. I may certainly be allowed to manage my own affairs." "We shall see, but you are very impertinent, and I shall speak to your father about your conduct."