"Then you are even duller than usual, and, as I may no more speak in parables, I will expound myself clearly. I deliberately endeavored to entrap and entangle Earle Moray into loving me, for my summer pastime. I did not duly consider that I might fall in love with him myself." "Why not, if you desired him to love you?" "That was merely part of beauty's dues, child. Why not? He is not rich enough, or great enough; he cannot take me to London, and make me a society queen." "Certainly not. You did not expect that." "True. And I did not expect to fall in love with him." "But you have? Surely you have, he loves you so much." "Eh? Do you want me to love him? I thought you wanted him." "I only want him to be happy," said Mattie, turning away, with a blush. "Perhaps I love him a little. I am not capable of loving much," said Doris, with exceeding frankness. "My chief affections are set upon the pomps and vanities of this life, which I presume were renounced for me in my baptism." "Don't be so wicked," cried the scandalized Mattie. "And yet I don't know that I could say 'yes,' if Earle asked me to marry him. I might, and then repent, and take it back. I suppose, if he asked father and mother, they would say 'yes,' and be fearfully awkward about it." "You shall not talk so about them!" said Mattie, indignantly. "I don't feel to them as you do--why is it? I don't feel a part of the Brace family. I like you, Mattie; father amuses me with his outspoken, homely ways; I don't consider mother much. She is good, but commonplace, like brown bread. In fact, you are all too rustic, and homely, and pious, and common-sensical for wicked me. Are you done with that butter? Why don't it grow made? I am sick of life. Earle is off to Brakebury for his mother. It is only half-past eight, and I feel as if I had been up a century. Come with me to get blackberries." "I cannot. I have much dairy work to do yet," said Mattie. "I wish you _would_ go for blackberries for supper," said Patty Brace, coming in. "You don't seem disposed to do anything useful, Doris--suppose you try that." "I take care of my room, and my clothes," pouted Doris, "and that nearly kills me. I wish I had a maid!" Patty laughed. "Well, child, the woods are cool and beautiful, and you are tired of doing nothing. Take this basket, and try and fill it with blackberries."