There was no reply. The grey eyes were blinking nervously, but the face and figure retained its erectness. "Come, come Greta, you mustn't snub me. What have I done that you will not speak to me?" Still no signs of relenting. Rufus whistled perplexedly, then, with a laugh, exclaimed: "I bet that old tartar has told you not to speak to me; now, hasn't she?" He bent down to look into the flushed face, and noted the determination of the firmly-closed lips, but not a word could he get from her, till at last when she reached the school, in desperation he laid his hand upon her shoulder. "I promise not to speak to you again till you give me leave, if you will only tell me why you are dumb this morning." Then Greta, from her advantage of a flight of stone steps between herself and him, turned and looked at him. Her eyes were rapidly filling with tears, but shaking the glittering drops from her long lashes, she spoke with perfect self-control. "Becca says it's not proper to talk to strange gentlemen without an introduction." And she turned her back upon him and walked in at the open door. Half vexed, half amused, Rufus went on to his work, muttering as he did so, "I am not going to take my dismissal so easily." CHAPTER II HIS STORY TOLD THE following day was Saturday, when as a rule Rufus went off in the afternoon for a long tramp with one of his fellow-clerks. But he declined all such proposals made to him before he left the bank, and after an early dinner at his lodgings, he arrayed himself in his best suit of clothes, and marched boldly across to call on his opposite neighbors. A sharp knock at the door brought a slatternly maidservant. "Is Mrs. Clay at home? I should like to see her. Will you take in my card?" The girl looked bewildered, and then showed him into the front sitting-room, where Greta was seated by her mother's couch reading aloud. Her little face at once brightened with smiles. "Mother, here is the gentleman who was so good to me and held the umbrella." Mrs. Clay looked up and gave the young man a gentle welcome. Before long he was quite at home, carrying on an animated conversation with mother and daughter. He was making Greta laugh with a reminiscence of his boyish days, when the door opened suddenly and the redoubtable "Becca" appeared. She was a tall plain-featured woman, with a not unkindly face; but her manner was severity itself, when she saw the intruder, and timid Mrs. Clay looked perturbed and frightened at once. "It is Mr. Tracy who lives opposite, Rebecca. He has taken such a kindly interest in Greta that I have told him we shall be glad to see him at any time." Rebecca folded her arms and looked defiantly at the audacious young man. "My mistress is not well enough to receive visitors. I fear this interview will be too exciting for her." Rufus rose at once.