It was said vehemently, with a sudden kindling of his dark eyes. "Oh, no," answered Kitty, feeling rather frightened, in spite of her previous professions of courage, though she did not quite know why. "I shall be very pleased. I must go now." And then she vanished hastily into the cottage. Hugo waited for some time, little guessing the fact that she was protracting her visit as much as possible, and furtively peeping through the blinds now and then in order to see if he were gone. Kitty had had some experience of his present mood, and was not certain that she liked it. But his patience was greater than hers. She was forced to come out at last, and before she had gone two steps he was at her side. "I thought you were never going to leave that wretched hole," he said. "Don't call it a wretched hole. It is very clean and nice. I often think that I should like to live in a cottage like that." "With someone who loved you," said Hugo, coming nearer, and gazing into her face. Kitty made a little _moue_. "The cottage would only hold one person comfortably," she said. "Then you shall not live in a cottage. You shall live in a far pleasanter place. What should you say to a little villa on the shores of the Mediterranean, with orange groves behind it, and the beautiful blue sea before? Should you like that, Kitty? You have only to say the word, and you know that it will be yours." "Then I won't say the word," said Kitty, turning away her head. "I like Scotland better than the Mediterranean." "Then let it be Scotland. What should you say to Netherglen?" "I prefer Strathleckie," replied the girl, with her most provoking smile. "That is no answer. You must give me an answer some day," said Hugo, whose voice was beginning to tremble. "You know what I mean: you know----" "Oh, what a lovely bit of bramble in the hedge!" cried Kitty, making believe that she had not been listening. "Look, it has still a leaf or two, and the stem is frosted all over and the veins traced in silver! Do get it for me: I must take it home." Hugo did her bidding rather unwillingly; but his sombre eyes were lighted with a reluctant smile, or a sort of glow that did duty for a smile, as she thanked him. "It is beautiful: it is like a piece of fairies' embroidery; far more beautiful than jewels would be. Oh, I wonder how people can make such a fuss about jewels, when they are so much less beautiful than these simple, natural things." "These will soon melt away; jewels won't melt," said Hugo. "I should like to see you with jewels on your neck and arms--you ought to be covered with diamonds." "That is not complimentary," laughed Kitty, "it sounds as if you thought they would make me better-looking. Now, you should compliment a person on what she is, and not on what she might be."