Some minutes had passed when Hetty rose and took down her writing-case from a shelf. She could at least communicate with Larry, for the maid, who had more than one admirer among the cow-boys, had found a means by which letters could be conveyed; but the girl could not command her thoughts, and written sympathy seemed so poor and cold a thing. Two letters were written and flung into the stove, for Flora Schuyler's counsel was bearing fruit; and she had commenced two more when there was a tapping at the door. Hetty looked up with a little flash in her eyes, and swept the papers into the writing-case as Clavering came in. Then she rose, and stood looking at him very coldly. It was an especially unfortunate moment for the man to approach her in, and, though he did not know why it should be so, he recognized it; but there were reasons that made any further procrastination distinctly unadvisable. "There is something I have been wanting to tell you for a long time, Hetty," he said. "It would be better for you to wait a little longer," the girl said chillingly. "I don't feel inclined to listen to anything to-night." "The trouble," said Clavering, who spoke the truth, "is that I can't. It has hurt me to keep silent as long as I have done already." He saw the hardening of Hetty's lips, and knew that he had blundered; but he was committed now, and could only obey when she said, with a gesture of weariness "Then go on." The abrupt command would probably have disconcerted most men and effectually spoiled the appeal they meant to make, and Clavering's face flushed as he recognized its ludicrous aspect. Still, he could not withdraw then, and he made the best of a difficult position with a certain gracefulness which might, under different circumstances, have secured him a modicum of consideration. As it was, however, Hetty's anger left her almost white, and there was a light he did not care to see in her eyes when she turned towards him. "I am glad you have told me this," she said. "Since nothing else would convince you, it will enable me to talk plainly; I don't consider it an honour--not in the least. Can't you see that it is wholly and altogether out of the question that I should ever think in that way of you?" Clavering gasped, and the darker colour that was in his cheek showed in his forehead too. Hetty reminded him very much of her father, then--and he had witnessed one or two displays of the cattle-baron's temper. "I admit that I have a good many shortcomings, but, since you ask, I must confess that I don't quite understand why my respectful offer should rouse your indignation." "No?" said Hetty coldly, with the vindictive sparkle still in her eyes. "Then aren't you very foolish?" Clavering smiled, though it was not easy. "Well," he said, "I was evidently too audacious; but you have not told me yet why the proposal I ventured to make should appear quite preposterous."