"And if I didn't think he'd be happy with me I never would have said yes to him,--no, not for anything in the world. I know he has a strong affection for me, and I--" The tender voice faltered for an instant, then went on. "I love him beyond anything I can imagine in this world or the next. I suppose I am wicked, and an idolater, and all that, but it's the truth, and I can't help it. Now are you going to--are you going to be very, very kind to him? You know you almost broke his heart once, and now I think you might let him alone. Will you?" Instead of replying immediately, Prudence hurriedly passed her hand over her eyes; then she said, lightly: "I don't think you have any idea how much breaking a man's heart will bear, and 'brokenly live on.'" She smiled as she made the quotation. "You needn't answer me like that," said Carolyn. "I suppose men's hearts are something like the hearts of women, after all. But we won't discuss that. I want you to reply to me. I've talked so frankly to you because I thought on the whole I would do so. I was determined that there should be no misunderstanding. Now, what are you going to do?" "Nothing." "Do you mean it?" she asked, eagerly. "Absolutely nothing,--save to look on, when I can't help it, at this beautiful drama of love--" "And you are not going to flirt with Rodney?" Carolyn interrupted. "No," the other said, firmly. Carolyn drew a deep breath; then she laughed. "I know I've been talking in the most ridiculous way possible," she said; "but no matter. I had a desire to have you give me your promise, and you have. But you needn't think I don't know exactly how foolish I've been; because I do." As Carolyn finished speaking she came to her cousin's side and took her hand for an instant. To her surprise, she found it as cold as her own, though the sun was shining hotly down upon the two. "If I were a man," began Prudence, "and saw two girls like you and me, I shouldn't look at me, I should just go and fall in love with you." "No; you wouldn't do any such thing; you'd think--oh, I know what you'd think. Oh, dear!" she partially turned towards the house, "is that Leander's voice? There's no one in the universe but a boy who can be in all places at once. I thought he had gone fishing. Leander," turning and speaking with some asperity, "I thought you had gone codding." "You must be a fool, then," promptly replied Leander, coming forward with his hands in his pockets. "I ain't goin' coddin' with the sun like this, 'n' the tide like this, 'n' late as this, I tell you. What you two been talkin' about?" He scanned the faces before him, squinting his eyes almost shut as he did so. "I declare, you look exactly as if you'd been tellin' secrets. Have ye?" "Yes, we have," answered Prudence. Leander came yet nearer. He reached out one grimy hand and took hold of his sister's skirt and pulled it.