The summer days were passing. We had all sorts of parties,--parties in houses and out-of-doors; we rode and sailed and walked. Laura walked and talked much with Harry Lothrop. We did not often see each other alone, but, when we met, were more serious and affectionate with each other. We did not speak, except in a general way, of Redmond and Harry Lothrop. I did not avoid Redmond, nor did I seek him. We had many a serious conversation in public, as well as many a gay one; but I had never met him alone since the night we rode through the pines. He went away for a fortnight. On the day of his return he came to see me. He looked so glad, when I entered the room, that I could not help feeling a wild thrill. I went up to him, but said nothing. He held out both his hands. I retreated. An angry feeling rushed into my heart. "No," I said, "Whose hand did you hold last?" He turned deadly pale. "That of the woman I am going to marry." I smiled to hide the trembling of my lips, and offered my hand to him; _but he waved it away_, and fell back on his chair, hurriedly drawing his handkerchief across his face. I saw that he was very faint, and stood against the door, waiting for him to recover. "More than I have played the woman and the fool before you." "Yes." "I thought so. You seem experienced." "I am." "Forgive me," he said, gently; "being only a man, I think you can. Good God!" he exclaimed, "what an infernal self-possession you show!" "Redmond, is it not time to end this? The summer has been a long one,--has it not?--long enough for me to have learned what it is to live. Our positions are reversed since we have become acquainted. I am for the first time forgetting self, and you for the first time remember self. Redmond, you are a noble man. You have a steadfast soul. Do not be shaken. I am not like you; I am not simple or single-hearted. But I imitate you. Now come, I beg you will go." "Certainly, I will. I have little to say." August had nearly gone when Maurice told me they were about to leave. Laura said we must prepare for retrospection and the fall sewing. "Well," I said, "the future looks gloomy, and I must have some new dresses." Maurice came to see me one morning in a state of excitement to say we were all going to Bird Island to spend the day, dine at the light-house, and sail home by moonlight. Fifteen of the party were going down by the sloop Sapphire, and Redmond had begged him to ask if Laura and I would go in his boat.