"Oh, I wanted to stop to speak--but that would not do, dear Star--would not do at all; but I will have a talk with them when he comes here next week, never mind," cried Edith, with much joyousness in the ring of her voice. "Isn't she such a pretty creature--just like one of those little fairy mountain girls you see sometimes in romantic plays in the theaters, and I know she is more romantic." "What do you think of him, Edith--the man--her brother--if that is whom he is?" asked Star, blushing for the first time Edith ever saw that intelligible sign in her face. "If he is not Mr. Winthrope's brother, he is his living stature in bronze," replied Edith; "and now, Star, tell me your opinion?" "I can't say that I have an opinion, Edith; I am really dumb with amazement. He is such a big fellow--more like a mill-worker, or such--oh, my, Edith; don't ask me for--" "Well, now, I like that way of speaking about Mr. Winthrope's brother. Maybe it was not him at all, and we have had our little scare for nothing. Oh, goodness! here comes Mr. Cobb again! dear me!" and Edith subsided. Pursuing the tenor of his prevailing thoughts, Jasper Cobb sought Edith and found her on the eastern end of the veranda. After saluting the two young ladies again quite prodigiously, he asked Edith for a private interview at once. Star, hearing the request, rose and left them, as if she had an errand in her room, before Edith had time to ask her to remain. Star, however, was waiting for such an opportunity to absent herself, knowing what young Cobb's mission was. Having been informed by Edith what her answer would be, she went away satisfied that she would return to find that young man laboring under a severe jolt to his mercenary soul. Now, when alone, Mr. Cobb drew up a seat and sat near Edith. "Miss Jarney, we have always been friends--our families?" "Yes." "And we have been friends for years, you and I?" "Yes." "Would you consider a proposition from me to make that friendship permanent and lasting?" "Yes." His heart bounded--a little. "Well, Miss Jarney--may I call you Edith?--I came here to ask you to marry me?" "You?" she said, turning on him. "Yes; me," he answered, dejectedly, for he caught the tone of her voice in no uncertain meaning. "No," said Edith, firmly, looking at him, with a sort of a commiserated smile for his imbecility. "If you want to be my friend, Mr. Cobb, all right, you may consider me as such; but, as to marrying you, never can I make up my mind to that end." "Dear Miss Jarney, you don't know the blow that you have struck me--it almost topples me over," he insisted, and Edith came near laughing in his face, so ludicrous was the expression that he had now assumed. "I have always thought you had encouraged me--" "Oh, never was I guilty of such an offense, Mr. Cobb--never. You are laboring under a misconception, or a delusion, or something else. Encourage you, Mr. Cobb? How ridiculous!" "Then, you refuse?" he asked, coldly and fiercely.