Peggy's grimace of disfavour was an eloquent comment. "I hated your pleasantness!" she said tersely. "I hated your friendship! I wanted you to be furious, and rage, and storm, and demand an explanation. You made me very wretched with your `pleasantness,' I can tell you that!" "Not half so wretched as I made myself. I wouldn't live through the last month again for any inducement you could offer; but you are not altogether free from blame yourself, for you have no idea what a little poker of dignity you have been to me all the time. Only to-day, when you asked my help, my own little Peggy came back, and then in the train Hector gave me a hint of what had happened. Poor old fellow, it's rough on him, but I can't pity him as I ought, for I am so outrageously happy! Partners, Mariquita! We are going to be partners all our lives. It seems too good to be true! I shall have to give up all thought of journeys to unknown lands; but, thank goodness! work seems to open out more and more at home, and we will be as happy as sandboys in a little home near your parents, working together and helping one another as we can do so well." "We will! We will! You shall supply the facts, and I will write them up. You do write such commonplace English, dear--not one bit picturesque! Wait until I have worked up your articles for you; you won't know them, they will be so altered!" "I believe you there!" said Rob demurely; but Peggy was launched on the stream of eloquence, and oblivious of sarcasm. "Oh, oh! It will be lovely!" she cried. "We will have the dearest little house, with a study for you, and a study for me, and a garden, and a pony cart, and a conservatory, and immaculate servants who do everything they should do, and never need looking after. And we will trot about together, and work and play, and do everything just exactly as we like, and have no one to order us about. Think of it! We shall be master and mistress--no one can interfere--no one can find fault. If I forget all about dinner some fine day, there won't be a soul who will have the right to blame me, or fly into a temper." "Oh, won't there just! Don't make any mistake about that!" cried Rob. "If you forget your duties, you will have me to reckon with, and I am not too amiable when I'm hungry. It will be my business to help you to overcome your failings, just as it will be yours to help me with mine." "You haven't got any," said Peggy quickly. "At least--I mean, yes, you have--lots--but I like them. They will keep mine company. No, seriously, Rob, I'll try to be good. I made up my mind to-day that if you came back safe, I would try with all my strength to be a better girl, and overcome my careless ways. And now I have more reason than before to persevere. I'll begin at once, and try so hard that by the time we are married I shall be quite a staid, responsible housewife."