Mr. Morris straightened up, and folded his arms across his breast; then, ridiculously enough, this struck him as a heroic attitude, and altogether unsuitable for an American, so he thrust his hands deep in his coat pockets. “Miss Earle,” he said, “I knew that you could be cruel, but I did not think it possible that you could be so cruel as this.” “Is the cruelty all on my side, Mr. Morris?” she answered. “Have you been perfectly honest and frank with me? You know you have not. Now, I shall be perfectly honest and frank with you. I like you very much indeed. I have not the slightest hesitation in saying this, because it is true, and I don’t care whether you know it, or whether anybody else knows it or not.” As she said this the hope which Morris had felt at first, and which had been dashed so rudely to the ground, now returned, and he attempted to put his arm about her and draw her to him; but the young lady quickly eluded his grasp, stepping to the other side of the flag-pole, and putting her hand upon it. “Mr. Morris,” she said, “there is no use of your saying anything further. There is a barrier between us; you know it as well as I. I would like us to be friends as usual; but, if we are to be, you will have to remember the barrier, and keep to your own side of it.” “I know of no barrier,” cried Morris, vehemently, attempting to come over to her side. “There is the barrier,” she said, placing her hand on the flag-pole. “My place is on this side of that barrier; your place is on the other. If you come on this side of that flag-pole, I shall leave you. If you remain on your own side, I shall be very glad to talk with you.” Morris sullenly took his place on the other side of the flag-pole. “Has there been anything in my actions,” said the young lady, “during the time we have been acquainted that would lead you to expect a different answer?” “Yes. You have treated me outrageously at times, and that gave me some hope.” Miss Earle laughed her low, musical laugh at this remark. “Oh, you may laugh,” said Morris, savagely; “but it is no laughing matter to me, I assure you.” “Oh, it will be, Mr. Morris, when you come to think of this episode after you get on shore. It will seem to you very, very funny indeed; and when you speak to the next young lady on the same subject, perhaps you will think of how outrageously I have treated your remarks to-night, and be glad that there are so few young women in the world who would act as I have done.” “Where did you get the notion,” inquired George Morris, “that I am in the habit of proposing to young ladies? It is a most ridiculous idea. I have been engaged once, I confess it. I made a mistake, and I am sorry for it. There is surely nothing criminal in that.” “It depends.” “Depends on what?” “It depends on how the other party feels about it. It takes two to make an engagement, and it should take two to break it.” “Well, it didn’t in my case,” said the young man.