"The uncertain glory of an April day," he exclaimed. "Why, a minute ago you were angry, then you were pleased, now you are frightened, and I suppose you will wind up with a burst of tears. How is one to take you?" For this style of lecture I had not any retort ready, so I only hung my head, and was silent. "One moment you are a woman, intelligent and sensible, the next a pettish child. One day you show a sympathy, a tact, a depth of feeling, that go to one's very heart; the next, capricious, silly, and childish, you destroy it all. Sometimes you amuse yourself with Tigre, sometimes with me. And," he continued, after a pause, "sometimes you talk too much, and sometimes, as at present, for instance, too little. Well?" he went on, interrogatively, having elicited no reply. "Well? Have you nothing to say for yourself? Then go!" he exclaimed, throwing my hand from him. "I am tired of you; you've been one thing too long; you've been silent exactly two minutes." I got up very quickly, and retreated toward the door. "What?" said Mr. Rutledge, rising and standing by the fire. "You are going? Why, we have but just made up." "I am not quite positive that we have," I answered, lighting my candle. "It's rather a one-sided make-up, it strikes me." "How so? You surely haven't any complaint to make of me, after all my unexampled goodness to you?" "Of course not!" I exclaimed; "nothing to say about your treating me like a baby, and expecting me to behave like a woman, making me talk to make you laugh, and putting my French and my temper to the hardest tests you could think of; and then, after I've vexed you by a little inattention, pushing me aside, as if I weren't capable of understanding a reproof, and turning your back on me for a whole evening. _I_ have nothing to complain of, of course! Good night, sir." "Stay a moment! You take away my breath with all that catalogue. _I_ tease you! _I_ laugh at you! Impossible!" "So I said, sir; and now, if you please, good night." "Ah! I see I must get you away to your aunt; I shall spoil you if I keep you here much longer. You are getting very saucy; Miss Crowen wouldn't own you." "I am afraid you are right there," I said, with a little sigh; "I don't think I am improving very much." "Well, then," he said, seriously, "suppose we determine to do better for the future, and instead of trifling and teasing, be good sensible friends. Will that suit you?" "I think it would be about as one-sided a friendship as the reconciliation was." "Why? Are you not willing to be my friend?" "Of course I am; but friendship implies equality, and all that sort of thing, and the power to help each other. Now, you know the absurdity of my being your friend, as well as I know it, and you are laughing at me." "Do I look as if I were laughing at you?" And indeed he did not.