Ronald sat down, folded his hands before him, and waited with the air of a rebellious child about to be catechized or reprimanded. The old commodore on his part dropped his head on his chest and reflected for a few moments before opening the discussion. At length, however, he looked up, drew a long breath, and began: “Ronald, I asked you to come here that I might talk to you on a very painful and very delicate subject, and I scarcely know how to open it.” He paused and looked at his nephew; but that young gentleman said nothing to help him out. “Perhaps you yourself may have some suspicion of the subject?” suggested the commodore. “Is it Miss Palmer?” sulkily inquired the young man. “Yes, it is Em. Palmer. Ronald, I do not wish to be hard on you. You are but a young man, shut up in a very dull country house with a very beautiful and attractive young girl. You could scarcely help falling a little in love with her, so I cannot blame you for that; but, Ronald, if you have let her perceive your love you have done wrong; and if you have won her love in return you have done very wrong.” Ronald started, flushed, and was about to speak, when his uncle raised his hand and said: “Hear me out, your turn will come presently.” “But I _must_ speak now. I never intended any wrong to Em.—never, so help me Heaven!” burst forth Ronald. “I quite believe it,” the commodore promptly admitted. “Yet you have already wronged her more than you know.” “How? how?” impetuously demanded the young man. “By your thoughtless pursuit of her since she has been in this house. By following her, lying in wait for her, meeting her in the breakfast-room, in the study, in the grounds, anywhere, in short, where you could find her alone. And this you have done without her connivance, I firmly believe!” “Heaven knows that is true! Em. herself has rebuked me for pursuing her; and yet I meant her no wrong, as I soon hope to prove to you.” “I need no proof. I know you, Ronald, and, therefore, I am sure you meant no harm; and yet, as I said before, you have by this conduct done her grievous wrong. You have drawn upon her the invidious notice of evil-thinking women. Do you know what happened yesterday?” suddenly inquired the commodore, breaking off in his discourse. “I know that our lady guests presumed to treat Miss Palmer with insolence! But they will find——” “Never mind what they will find. There was something worse than that happened! these women’s tongues obliged my sister-in-law to dismiss the girl from her service.” Ronald sprang to his feet. “Did my mother have the cruelty to do that?” he exclaimed.