"I mean," said Harvey miserably stumbling on, "we sort of were. We understood." He brought one hand from his pocket. It held the box containing the ring. "Why, Elsie," he said pleadingly, "I even bought the ring. Just a plain band of gold. I did so hope that some day, soon perhaps, you'd let me put it on your finger and take you to our home. It wouldn't be much, but I'd love you and care for you. Why I'd work night and day just to make things easy for you. I love you. It all begins and ends with that." Elsie stood for a moment as though this honest appeal had touched her. Then she turned sharply. "O, what's the use," she cried, "Look at this place. See how we live. And you--you want me to go on like this? No!" Harvey stared at her stupidly. "Don't stare at me like that," said the girl annoyed. "I am wondering what has changed you so," said Harvey apologetically. "Nothing, I tell you." "Yes, there is something, or somebody." "Now Harvey, please don't begin--" Elsie paused. Her glance left Harvey's face. A young man in a brown tweed suit and carrying a light walking stick in his gloved hand was coming toward the gate. "Hello," he said easily, addressing Elsie and ignoring Spencer, "anybody at home?" Elsie turned toward him with impulsive friendliness, then remembering her other suitor paused and tried to assume a manner of unconcern. "Of course, there's someone at home," she said, "can't you see there is?" "Can't be sure that such loveliness is real," said the newcomer gallantly. "You're talking Chicagoese," said the girl, not, however, displeased. "Simple fact, believe me," was the assured response. Elsie saw that Harvey was eyeing the stranger with hostility. "Do you know Mr. Spencer, Mr. Druce?" "Everybody in Millville knows Mr. Spencer," replied Martin Druce, putting out his hand. "He's a town institution." "Thank you," said Harvey, mollified by what he thought a sincere compliment and shaking hands. "Institution!" laughed Elsie. Harvey stopped and withdrew the hand. It dawned on him that there was a secret understanding between Druce and the girl. "Now hold on," he asked. "Just what do you mean by that word 'institution?'" "Why you're one of the landmarks here," explained Druce, "the same as the bank or the opera house." He brushed the lapel of Harvey's coat with his gloved hand and straightened his collar. Then he soberly removed Harvey's straw hat, fingered it into grotesque lines and replaced it on his head. He stepped back to observe the effect, adding satirically: "I'll bet you won't stay long in this jay town." "You're dead right there," boasted Harvey. "Millville is all right and a rising place but--" "I knew it," said Druce gravely. "You'll be coming up to Chicago to show Marshall Field how to run his store." "Well, I may--" began Harvey proudly. "Oh!" Elsie's voice was pained. "Don't do that, Mr. Druce!" Then she turned to Spencer. "Why do you let him make a joke of you?"