The immobile, amused superiority of this proprietor of silver boxes, this wearer of strange and brilliant garments, became slightly intensified as he pointed to the fallen sleeve, a rag of red and snow, lying near her feet. "You might take that with you?" he said, interrogatively. Her gaze had not wavered in meeting his, but at this her eyelashes began to wink uncontrollably, her chin to tremble. She bent over the sleeve and picked it up, before Joe Louden, who had started towards her, could do it for her. Then turning, her head still bent so that her face was hidden from both of them, she ran out of the gate. "DO go!" Joe called after her, vehemently. "Go! Just to show what a fool you are to think 'Gene's in earnest." He would have followed, but his step-brother caught him by the arm. "Don't stop her," said Eugene. "Can't you tell when I AM in earnest, you bally muff!" "I know you are," returned the other, in a low voice. "I didn't want her to think so for your sake." "Thousands of thanks," said Eugene, airily. "You are a wise young judge. She couldn't stay--in THAT state, could she? I sent her for her own good." "She could have gone in the house and your mother might have loaned her a jacket," returned Joe, swallowing. "You had no business to make her go out in the street like that." Eugene laughed. "There isn't a soul in sight--and there, she's all right now. She's home." Ariel had run along the fence until she came to the next gate, which opened upon a walk leading to a shabby, meandering old house of one story, with a very long, low porch, once painted white, running the full length of the front. Ariel sprang upon the porch and disappeared within the house. Joe stood looking after her, his eyelashes winking as had hers. "You oughtn't to have treated her that way," he said, huskily. Eugene laughed again. "How were YOU treating her when I came up? You bully her all you want to yourself, but nobody else must say even a fatherly word to her!" "That wasn't bullying," explained Joe. "We fight all the time." "Mais oui!" assented Eugene. "I fancy!" "What?" said the other, blankly. "Pick up that banjo-case again and come on," commanded Mr. Bantry, tartly. "Where's the mater?" Joe stared at him. "Where's what?" "The mater!" was the frowning reply. "Oh yes, I know!" said Joe, looking at his step-brother curiously. "I've seen it in stories. She's up-stairs. You'll be a surprise. You're wearing lots of clothes, 'Gene." "I suppose it will seem so to Canaan," returned the other, weariedly. "Governor feeling fit?" "I never saw him," Joe replied; then caught himself. "Oh, I see what you mean! Yes, he's all right." They had come into the hall, and Eugene was removing the long coat, while his step-brother looked at him thoughtfully. "'Gene," asked the latter, in a softened voice, "have you seen Mamie Pike yet?"