"Thanks," said Ronald. "How kind you are!" "Do say something nice, Ronald. You have done nothing but find fault since you came. Have you heard from home?" "No. There has not been time yet. Why do you ask?" "Because I thought you might say something less disagreeable about home than you seem able to say about things here," said Joe tartly. "You do not want me this morning. I will go away again," said Ronald with a gloomy frown. He rose to his feet, as though about to take his leave. "Oh, don't go, Ronald." He paused. "Besides," added Joe, "Sybil will be here in a little while." "You need not offer me Miss Brandon as an inducement to stay with you, Joe, if you really want me. Twenty Miss Brandons would not make any difference!" "Really?" said Joe smiling. "You are a dear good boy, Ronald, when you are nice," she added presently. "Sit down again." Ronald went back to his seat beside her, and they were both silent for a while. Joe repented a little, for she thought she had been teasing him, and she reflected that she ought to be doing her best to make him happy. "Joe--do not you think it would be very pleasant to be always like this?" said Ronald after a time. "How--like this?" "Together," said Ronald softly, and a gentle look came into his handsome face, as he looked up at his cousin. "Together--only in our own home." Joe did not answer, but the color came to her cheeks, and she looked annoyed. She had hoped that the matter was settled forever, for it seemed so easy for her. Ronald misinterpreted the blush. For the moment the old conviction came back to him that she was to be his wife, and if it was not exactly love that he felt, it was a satisfaction almost great enough to take its place. "Would it not?" said he presently. "Please do not talk about it, Ronald. What is the use? I have said all there is to say, I am sure." "But I have not," he answered, insisting. "Please, Joe dearest, think about it seriously. Think what a cruel thing it is you are doing." His voice was very tender, but he was perfectly calm; there was not the slightest vibration of passion in the tones. Joe did not wholly understand; she only knew that he was not satisfied with the first explanation she had given him, and that she felt sorry for him, but was incapable of changing her decision. "Must I go over it all again?" she asked piteously. "Did I not make it clear to you, Ronald? Oh--don't talk about it!" "You have no heart, Joe," said Ronald hotly. "You don't know what you make me suffer. You don't know that this sort of thing is enough to wreck a man's existence altogether. You don't know what you are doing, because you have no heart--not the least bit of one." "Do not say that--please do not," Joe entreated, looking at him with imploring eyes, for his words hurt her. Then suddenly the tears came in a quick hot gush, and she hid her face in her hands. "Oh, Ronald, Ronald--it is you who do not know," she sobbed.