"You met him at dusk this evening as you were going to old Sandon's--if you _were_ going there; and you meet him now in returning," continued Blase. "It's done on purpose." "If I did meet him each time, it was by accident. Do you suppose I put myself in the way of meeting Mr. Raynor?" "Yes, I do. There!" "You shall not say these things to me, Blase. Just because you chance to be a fifteenth cousin of my mother's, you think that gives you a right to lecture me." "You are always out and about somewhere," contended Blase. "What on earth d'you want at old Sandon's for ever?" "She is sad and lonely, Blase," was the pleading answer, given in a tone of sweet pity. "Think of her sorrow! Poor Granny Sandon!" "Why do you call her 'Granny'?" demanded Blase, who was in a fault-finding mood. "She's no granny of yours, Rosaline." Rosaline laughed slightly. "Indeed, I don't know why we call her 'Granny,' Blase. Every one does. Let me pass." "Every one doesn't. No: you are not going to pass yet. I intend to have it out with you about the way you favour that fool, Raynor. Meeting him at all hours of the day and night." Rosaline's anger was aroused. In her heart she disliked Blase Pellet. He had given her trouble for some time past in trying to force his attentions upon her. It seemed to her that half the work of her life consisted in devising means to repress and avoid him. "How dare you speak to me in this manner, Blase Pellet? You have not the right to do it, and you never will have." "You'd rather listen to the false palaver of that stuck-up gentleman, Raynor, than you would to the words of an honest man like me." "Blase Pellet, hear me once for all," vehemently retorted the girl. "Whatever Mr. Raynor may say to me, it is nothing to you; it never will be anything to you. If you speak in this way of him again, I shall tell him of it." She eluded the outstretched arm, ran swiftly by, and gained her home. Blase Pellet, standing to watch, saw the light within as she opened the door and entered. "_Is_ it nothing to me!" he repeated, in a crestfallen tone. "You'll find that out before we are a day older, Miss Rosaline. I'll stop your fun with that proud fellow, Raynor." CHAPTER III. ON THE BARE PLAIN. "In vain I look from height and tower, No wished-for form I see; In vain I seek the woodbine bower-- He comes no more to me." So sang Rosaline Bell in the beams of the morning sun. They came glinting between the hyacinths in the window, and fell on the cups and saucers. Rosaline stood at the kitchen-table, washing up the breakfast-things. She wore a light print gown, with a white linen collar fastened by a small silver brooch.