"I know what you mean," said Lawrence, "but I can't endure to talk of such trifles. I love you, Roberta--" "Miss March," she interrupted. "And I want you to tell me if you love me in return." Miss March rose from the rock where she had been sitting, and her companion rose with her. After a moment's silence, during which he watched her with intense eagerness, she said: "Mr Croft, I am going to give you your choice. Would you prefer being refused under a cherry tree, or under a sycamore?" There was a little smile on her lips as she said this, which Lawrence could not interpret. "I decline being refused under any tree," he said with vehemence. "I prefer the cherry tree," said she, "there is a very pretty one over there on the ridge of this hill, and its leaves are nearly all gone, which would make it quite appropriate--but what is the meaning of this? There comes Peggy. It isn't possible that she thinks it's time for me to give out something to Aunt Judy." Croft turned, and there was the wooden Peggy, marching steadily up the hill, and almost upon them. "What do you want, Peggy?" asked Miss Roberta. "Dar's a man down to de house dat wants him," pointing to Mr Croft. Lawrence was very much surprised. "A man who wants me!" he exclaimed. "You must be mistaken." "No sah," replied Peggy, "you's de one." For a moment Lawrence hesitated. His disposition was to let any man in the world, be he president or king, wait until he had settled this matter with Miss March. But with Peggy present it was impossible to go on with the love-making. He might, indeed, send her back with a message, but the thought came to him that it would be well to postpone for a little the pressing of his suit, for the lady was certainly in a very untoward humor, and he was not altogether sorry to have an excuse for breaking off the interview at this point. He had not yet been discarded, and he would like to think over the matter, and see if he could discover any reason for the very disrespectful manner, to say the least of it, with which Miss March had received his amatory advances. "I suppose I must go and see the man," he said, "though I can't imagine who it can possibly be. Will you return to the house?" "No," said Miss Roberta, "I will stay here a little longer, and enjoy the view." CHAPTER XVII.