’Ah, well, I am not likely to try, I think,’ she continued. ’But about this Mr. Lauder, Ronald—you see, he is a very important person in Mr. Gemmill’s eyes; for he and his father have still some interest in the warehouse, I suppose; and I know he thinks it is time that Mr. Gemmill’s name should be mentioned in the firm—not mere "Co." And that would please Agatha too; and so they’re very polite to him; and they expect me to be very polite to him too. You see, Ronald, I can’t tell him to go away until he says something—either to me or to Agatha; and he won’t take a hint, though he must see that I would rather not have him send flowers and music and that; and then, again, I sometimes think it is not fair to you, Ronald, that I should allow anything of the kind to go on—merely through the difficulty of speaking——’ He stopped, and put his hand over the hand that lay on his arm: there was not a human being in sight. ’Tell me this, Meenie darling: does his coming to the house vex you and trouble you?’ ’Oh no—not in the least,’ said she, blithely and yet seriously. ’I am rather pleased when he comes to the house. When he is there of an evening, and I have the chance of sitting and looking at him, it makes me quite happy.’ This was rather a startling statement, and instantly she saw a quick, strange look in his eyes. ’But you don’t understand, Ronald,’ she said placidly, and without taking away her eyes from his. ’Every time I look at him I think of you, and it’s the difference that makes me glad.’ Halcyon days indeed; and Glasgow became a radiant golden city in this happy autumn time; and each meeting was sweeter and dearer than its predecessor; and their twin lives seemed to be floating along together on a river of joy. With what a covetous care she treasured up each fragment of verse he brought her, and hid it away in a little thin leathern case she had herself made, so that she could wear it next her heart. He purchased for her little presents—such as he could afford—to show her that he was thinking of her on the days when they could not meet; and when she took these, and kissed them, it was not of their pecuniary value she was thinking. As for her, she had vast schemes as to what she was going to make for him when she got back to the Highlands. Here, in Glasgow, nothing of the kind was possible. Her sister’s eyes were too sharp, and her own time too much occupied. Indeed, what between the real lover, who was greedy of every moment she could spare for these secret interviews, and the pseudo lover, who kept the Queen’s Crescent household in a constant turmoil of engagements and entertainments and visits, Rose Meenie found the hours sufficiently full; and the days of her stay in Glasgow were going by rapidly.