"Harriet," said Ralph's little voice. He slipped his hand inside her arm. "What has I done? Why do you hate me, Harriet? What has I done?" Harriet looked round. Then for a minute she stood quite still. Then, all of a sudden, her eyes fell; they fell until they reached the brown beseeching eyes of Ralph. Over her whole heart there rushed such a sensation of love for the boy that she could not restrain herself another moment. "Oh, Ralph!" she said, with a sob. "I am about the nastiest girl in all the world. But I do, I do love you! Oh Ralph, Ralph!" She flung her arms around him, dropping on her knees to come nearer to him. Just for a minute, she gave him a fierce kiss; then she let him go. "It is Robina I hate," she said; "it is not you." Ralph gave a sigh. "I am glad you don't hate me," he said, "'cause you see I love you." "And why aren't you with the others?" said Harriet, suddenly. "Couldn't," said Ralph, shaking his head. "Stayed a-hint 'cause of you; wanted to be with you--couldn't go." "Then you do really love me?" "I has said so," answered Ralph. A warm glow such as a fire might make entered Harriet's heart. She sank down on the mossy turf and drew Ralph to sit near her. "You are very nice," she said. "I am very, very glad you stayed. But what did your father--what did he do?" "Father?" said Ralph, in a surprised tone. "Nothing, in course." "But he wanted you to go, surely?" "I said to father I must stay home this morning 'cause of one of my school-mothers." "And then?" said Harriet. "Father--he said, `Send Bluefeather back to the stables.'" "Then, Ralph?--and was that all?" asked Harriet. "'Course," said Ralph. "Father don't question 'less at something very naughty." "Oh," answered Harriet. After a pause, she said: "He didn't ask you which of your school-mothers?" "No," said Ralph. "Think he guessed, though." "Did your father go with the others to the sea-shore?" "Oh, yes: he went in the governess cart. He drove the donkey that drew the governess cart his own self." "You must have been very sorry to give up your fun," said Harriet. "'Course," said Ralph. "But you did it for me?" "'Course," said Ralph again. He concealed nothing, denied nothing. He looked full now into Harriet's face. "What is the matter?" she asked. "You said you hated Robina and me; then you said afterwards that you did not hate me--you loved me, but you hated Robina. I want you to love us both. By the time Robina comes back, I want you to be a-loving of her as hard as you're a-loving of me." "Well, I can't do that," said Harriet, "so there is no use wishing it." Ralph sighed. "She is very, very good," he said. "Ralph," said Harriet, suddenly; "there are some things I cannot bear." "What?" asked the little boy. "I love you, and I can't bear you to be fondest of Robina." "Very sorry," said Ralph, shaking his curly head.