"Upon my word, I think you would, Charlotte. I have often said it. But you are one in a thousand." "Have you had anything to eat since you came in?" "They brought me some supper. It has just gone away." "I had better inquire whether there's a room ready for you?" she remarked, moving towards the bell. "It's all done, Charlotte. I told them I had come to stay. Just sit down, and let me talk to you." "Shall you stay long?" "I can't tell until I hear from Verrall to-morrow. I may be leaving again to-morrow night, or I may be here for interminable weeks. The office is to be clear of Mr. Verrall just now, do you understand?" Charlotte apparently did understand. She took her seat in a chair listlessly enough. Something in her manner would have told an accurate observer that she could very well have dispensed with the company of Rodolf Pain. He, however, saw nothing of that. He took his cigar-case from his pocket, selected a cigar, and then, by way of sport, held the case out to Charlotte. "Will you take one?" For answer, she dashed it out of his hand half way across the room. And she did it in anger, too. "How uncertain you are!" he exclaimed, as he rose to pick up his property. "There are times when you can take a joke pleasantly, and laugh at it." He sat down again, lighted his cigar, and smoked a few minutes in silence. Then he turned to her. "Don't you think it is time, Charlotte, that you and I brought ourselves to an anchor?" "No, I don't," she bluntly answered. "But I say it is," he resumed. "And I mean it to be done." "_You_ mean!" Something in the tone roused him, and he gazed at her with surprise. "You are not going from your promise, Charlotte?" "I don't remember that I made any distinct promise," said she. Mr. Rodolf Pain grew heated. "You know that you did, Charlotte. You know that you engaged yourself irrevocably to me----" "Irrevocably!" she slightingly interrupted. "How you misapply words!" "It was as irrevocable as promise can be. Have you not led me on, this twelvemonth past, believing month after month that you would be my wife the next? And, month after month, you have put me off upon the most frivolous pretexts!" He rose as he spoke, drew up his little figure to its utmost height in his excitement, and pushed back his light hair from his small, insignificant face. A face that betrayed not too much strength of any sort, physical, moral, or intellectual; but a good-natured face withal. Charlotte retained unbroken calmness. "Rodolf, I don't think it would do," she said, with an air of candid reasoning. "I have thought it over and over, and that's why I have put you off. It is not well that we should all be so closely connected together. Better get new ties, that will shelter us, in case a--a----" "A what?" asked Rodolf Pain, his eyes strained on Charlotte through their very light lashes.