Dorcas smiled, and only plucked a little flowery tendril from a plant that hung in a natural festoon above her. 'I assure you, darling, I am serious; you must not look so incredulous; and it is the more provoking, because I love you so. I think I have a right to your advice, Dorkie.' 'Why don't you ask Rachel, she's cleverer than I, and you are more in the habit of consulting her?' 'Now, Dorkie is going to talk her wicked nonsense over again, as if I had never answered it. What about Radie? I do assure you, so far from taking her advice, and thinking her an oracle, as you suppose, I believe her in some respects very little removed from a fool.' 'I think her very clever, on the contrary,' said Dorcas, enigmatically. 'Well, she is clever in some respects; she is gay, at least she used to be, before she fell into that transcendental parson's hands--I mean poor dear William Wylder; and she can be amusing, and talks very well, but she has no sense--she is utterly Quixotic--she is no more capable of advising than a child.' 'I should not have fancied that, although you say so, Stanley.' she answered carelessly, adding a geranium to her bouquet. 'You are thinking, I know, because you have seen us once or twice talking together----' Stanley paused, not knowing exactly how to construct the remainder of his sentence. Dorcas added another blossom. 'I think that blue improves it wonderfully. Don't you?' 'The blue? Oh yes, certainly.' 'And now that little star of yellow will make it perfect,' said Dorcas. 'Yes--yellow--quite perfect,' said Stanley. 'But when you saw Rachel and me talking together, or rather Rachel talking to me, I do assure you, Dorcas, upon my sacred honour, one half of what she said I do not to this moment comprehend, and the whole was based on the most preposterous blunder; and I will tell you in a little time everything about it. I would this moment--I'd be delighted--only just until I have got a letter which I expect--a letter, I assure you, nothing more--and until I have got it, it would be simply to waste your time and patience to weary you with any such--any such.' '_Secret_,' said Dorcas. '_Secret_, then, if you will have it so,' retorted Stanley, suddenly, with one of those glares that lasted for just one fell moment; but he instantly recovered himself. '_Secret_--yes--but no secret in the evil sense--a secret only awaiting the evidence which I daily expect, and then to be stated fully and frankly to you, my only darling, and as completely blown to the winds.' Dorcas looked in his strange face with her proud, sad gaze, like one guessing at a funereal allegory. He kissed her cheek again, placing one arm round her slender waist, and with his other hand taking hers.