uld go to pieces to-morrow!"

"And now," returned Flora, "you will be able to give yourself a little
holiday, and take some much-needed rest, will you not? Promise me that
you will, Dick, please. You have been looking very anxious and worried
of late, and have been toiling the whole day through, day after day, in
the hot sun. I am sure such arduous work is not good for you; and
indeed I have more than once been tempted to refuse to help you, because
I knew that, if I did, you would be compelled to desist. But when I saw
how eager you were I thought it would be cruel; and I could not bring
myself to be that, even though I felt that it would be for your good."

"You have been infinitely good to me, Flora," answered Leslie, with deep
feeling--"infinitely good, and infinitely patient; while I have been
impatient and exacting. In my impatience--I can see it now--I have
worked you cruelly hard--"

The girl put her hand over his mouth. "You shall not say another word
until you talk sensibly," she declared. "The idea of saying that you
`worked me hard'! Why, what _I_ did was child's play; a girl of fifteen
could have done it without being distressed. Please do not let me hear
you say such things again!" she insisted, imperiously; immediately
adding, "Now, you will promise to take a day's rest to-morrow, will you
not, Dick?"

"Certainly, if you wish it," assented Leslie. "We will both take a
day's holiday, and go fishing along the inner edge of the reef, shall
we?"

"By all means," agreed Flora. "I have often thought that I should like
a little fish, as a change of diet; I am getting most horribly tired of
salt beef and pork and tinned meats. But you have been so feverishly
busy that I did not like to ask you."

"Then," said Leslie, with severity, "please do not do it again. How
many times must I tell you that you have only to express a wish, to have
it gratified, if I can do it, before you will believe me?"

"I do believe you, Dick; indeed I do," she answered softly. "I know
that there is nothing I could ask you that you would not willingly and
gladly do for me if you could. You are the kindest, most generous, most
chivalrous gentleman that I ever met--"

"Stop, please!" exclaimed Leslie, with a sudden fierceness of energy
that frightened the girl; "you must not say such things as that, or I
shall some day forget myself and--But you have not yet heard my story; I
must tell it you some day, Flora; yes, th