Looking not only at the progress of the work, but at her. Mr. John Massingbird was one who had an eye for beauty; he had not seen much in his life that could match with that before him. As Rachel held the case up to him, the damage repaired, he suddenly bent his head to steal a kiss. But Rachel was too quick for him. She flung his face away with her hand; she flushed vividly; she was grievously indignant. That she considered it in the light of an insult was only too apparent; her voice was pained--her words were severe. "Be quiet, stupid! I was not going to eat you," laughed John Massingbird. "I won't tell Luke." "Insult upon insult!" she exclaimed, strangely excited. "You know that Luke Roy is nothing to me, Mr. Massingbird; you know that I have never in my life vouchsafed to give him an encouraging word. But, much as I despise him--much as he is beneath me--I would rather submit to have my face touched by him than by you." What more she would have said was interrupted by the reappearance of Mrs. Verner. That lady's ears had caught the sound of the contest; of the harsh words; and she felt inexpressibly surprised. "What has happened?" she asked. "What is it, Rachel?" "She pricked herself with one of the needles," said John, taking the explanation upon himself; "and then said I did it." Mrs. Verner looked from one to the other. Rachel had turned quite pale. John laughed; he knew his mother did not believe him. "The truth is, mother, I began teasing Rachel about her admirer, Luke. It made her angry." "What absurdity!" exclaimed Mrs. Verner testily, to Rachel. "My opinion is, you would have done well to encourage Luke. He was steady and respectable; and old Roy must have saved plenty of money." Rachel burst into tears. "What now!" cried Mrs. Verner. "Not a word can anybody say to you lately, Rachel, but you must begin to cry as if you were heart-broken. What has come to you, child? Is anything the matter with you?" The tears deepened into long sobs of agony, as though her heart were indeed broken. She held her handkerchief up to her face, and went sobbing from the room. Mrs. Verner gazed after her in very astonishment. "What has taken her? What can it possibly be?" she uttered. "John, you must know." "I, mother! I declare to you that I know no more about it than Adam. Rachel must be going a little crazed." CHAPTER II. THE WILLOW POND. Before the sun had well set, the family at Verner's Pride were assembling for dinner. Mr. and Mrs. Verner, and John Massingbird: neither Lionel Verner nor Frederick Massingbird was present. The usual custom appeared somewhat reversed on this evening: while roving John would be just as likely to absent himself from dinner as not, his brother and Lionel Verner nearly always appeared at it. Mr. Verner looked surprised. "Where are they?" he cried, as he waited to say grace. "Mr. Lionel has not come in, sir," replied the butler, Tynn, who was husband to the housekeeper.