Elias took his hand, held it for an instant, dropped it, and responded, “How do you do?” “That ain't answering my question,” said Redwood. “I want to know, how do _ye_ do?” “Oh, I feel quite well, quite as usual, thank you,” replied Elias. “Won't--won't you sit down?” “Well, I guess I will--yes,” the old man assented, and did so. “Well,” he continued, “this has been the devil's own business all around, hasn't it? Poor Chris, poor little Chris--she's pretty near out of her head. She's all broke up. She is, for a fact. She wanted to come down here with me--begged and implored me to let her. But I wouldn't. I didn't know how you might be; and, think s's I, it might just fret her worse than ever. She's been scared about to death. Poor little thing! I tried to comfort her, and cheer her up; but it wa'n't much use. A father don't count for much, now-a-days, when a young man is concerned. I suppose,” he wound up abruptly, “seeing you feel all right again, you'll be up to the house to-night, hey? Then we can settle on a new day for the wedding.” Elias summoned his utmost courage. “N-no; I think not,” he said. His voice was husky and unsteady. Redwood did not understand. “Hey--what?” he queried. “I say, no; I think I shall not call this evening.” “No? Why, why not? Don't you--ain't you well enough? Chris is just--I may say, she's just pining for a sight of ye. I really think she'll get sick, if this thing keeps on. If you're able to leave the house, I really think you'd better come up. She--she's nearly cried her eyes out. I told her--just before I left--I told her: 'Now, look here, Chris, you want to stop that crying. You want to dry your eyes, and _bleach_ 'em, against Elias's coming,' says I, 'for he won't admire them, red like that.' I said this, you know, to sort of make her laugh. But seriously, I'm scared about her. I am, actually. She hasn't tasted a mouthful of food all day. I guess I'll have to call in the doctor if she ain't better to-morrow. But unless you're considerably worse off than you look, I guess you'd better come up. I'll tell you what you do--you come up with me now, and take dinner.” Elias felt that the old man was making it more and more difficult for him to say what would have to be said. He clenched his fists, and gritted his teeth, and began by a great effort to force out the words. “Mr. Redwood--there is a--a misunderstanding. I must set it right. I--I am exceedingly sorry--to--to be compelled to tell you--to tell you that--” Here his voice sank to a whisper. He paused for a moment, drew a long breath, resumed aloud, “--that, owing to circumstances which I can not perfectly explain--because, in fact, of our difference of religion--she being a Christian, and I a Jew--the--the engagement--between Miss Redwood and myself--will have to be--broken off. This is quite positive. There is no help for it. Please--please believe it, without my saying more. I am very sorry. Our engagement will have to be broken off.”