They had reached a distant part of the ice, and were slowly skating round the limits of a little bay, where the slanting moonbeams fell through tall old trees upon the glinting black surface. They were quite alone, only in the distance they could hear the long-drawn clang and ring of the other skaters, echoing all along the lake with a tremulous musical sound in the still bright night. "You must be very cold yourself, Mr. Harrington," Joe began again after a pause, stopping and looking at him. John laughed a little. "I?" he cried. "No, indeed, I am the most enthusiastic man alive." "You are when you are speaking in public," said Joe. "But that may be all comedy, you know. Orators always study their speeches, with all the gestures and that, before a glass, don't they?" "I do not know," said John. "Of course I know by heart what I am going to say, when I make a speech like that of the other evening, but I often insert a great deal on the spur of the moment. It is not comedy. I grow very much excited when I am speaking." "Never at any other time?" asked Joe. "Seldom; why should I? I do not feel other things or situations so strongly." "In other words," replied Joe, "it is just as I said; you are generally very cold." "I suppose so," John acquiesced, "since you will not allow the occasions when I am not cold to be counted." Joe looked down as she stood, and moved her skates slowly on the ice; the shadows hid her face. "Do you know," she said presently, "you lose a great deal; you must, you cannot help it. You only like people in a body, so as to see what you can do with them. You only care for things on a tremendously big scale, so that you may try to influence them. When you have not a crowd to talk to, or a huge scheme to argue about, you are bored to extinction." "No," said John; "I am not bored at present, by any means." "Because you are talking about big things. Most men in your place would be talking about the moonlight, and quoting Shelley." "To oblige you, Miss Thorn, I could quote a little now and then," said John, laughing. "Would it please you? I dare say you have seen elephants stand upon their hind legs and their heads alternately. I should feel very much like one; but I will do anything to oblige you." "That is frivolous," said Joe, who did not smile. "Of course it is. I am heavy by nature. You may teach me all sorts of tricks, but they will not be at all pretty." "No, you are very interesting as you are," said Joe quietly. "But I do not think you will be happy." "It is not a question of happiness." "What is it then?" "Usefulness," said John. "You do not care to be happy, you only care to be useful?" Joe asked. "Yes. But my ideas of usefulness include many things. Some of the people who listen to me would be very much astonished if they knew what I dream." "Nothing would astonish me," said Joe, thoughtfully. "Of course you must think of everything in a large way--it is your nature. You will be a great man."