"No more Sukey for me," said Dic. "I'll have nothing more to do with her. I want to be decent and worthy of Rita. I want to be true to her, and Sukey is apt to lead me in the other direction, without even the excuse on my part of caring for her. An honest man will not deliberately lead himself into temptation." Upon the Sunday previous to Dic's intended departure for New York he visited Rita. He had made this New York trip once before, and had returned safely, therefore its terrors for Rita were greatly reduced. Her regret on account of the second expedition was solely because she would be separated from Dic for three or four months, and that bitterness was sweetened by the thought that she would have him always after his return. "How shall I act while you are away?" she asked. "Shall I continue to receive Mr. Williams, or shall I refuse to see him? You must decide for me, and I'll act as you wish. You know how unhappy mother will be if I refuse to see him and--and, you know she will be very severe with me. I would not care so much for that, although her harshness hurts me terribly. But mother's in bad health--her heart is troubling her a great deal of late--and I can't bear to cause her pain. On the other hand, it tortures me when that man comes near me, and it must pain you when I receive him kindly. I can't bear to pain you and--and at times I fear if I permit his attention you will--will doubt me. That would kill me, Dic; I really believe it would." "Don't worry on that score," replied Dic, placing his hand on her heart, "there is nothing but truth here." "I hope not, Dic," she replied. She could not boast even of her fidelity. There might be many sorts of evil in that heart, for all she knew. "Indeed, there is not," said Dic, tenderly. "If by any chance we should ever be separated,--if we should ever lose each other,--it will not be because of your bad faith." "But, Dic," cried Rita, "that terrible 'if.' It is the first time you ever used the word with reference to us." "It means nothing, Rita," answered Dic, reassuringly. "There can be no 'if' between you and me. As for Williams, you must receive him and treat him kindly. Tom is his clerk, and I should hate to see Tom lose his position. Tom is a mighty good fellow. You say your father owes Williams a large debt. He might, if he chose, act ugly. Therefore, you must act prettily. Poor Williams! I'm sorry for him. We will give them all the slip when I return." The slip came in an unexpected manner, and Dic did not go to New York.