"

"Oh! I suppose so," was her indifferent reply, "but we could easily have
bought something when we felt hungry. I hope, Elsie, that you do not think
we are going into a wilderness where people live on grass roots!" and she
coolly leaned back in her seat, rearranged the pretty tie at her throat,
then pulled a book from the strap, as if ready for the perusal of it when
Hugh would be kind enough to relieve them of his presence.

But Hugh was not to be dismissed by hints. Taking the seat by Elsie's side,
and opposite Dexie, he said: "Still, I am sure you would have felt sorry
to have forgotten it; you know it is the last home-cooking you will eat for
some time, Elsie."

Whereupon Elsie's lip began to quiver, and a suspicion of moisture to
appear in her eyes; a word more of home matters would cause the drops to
fall into the handkerchief that Elsie was already pulling out of her
pocket, in readiness to catch the coming shower. Dexie could have boxed
Hugh's ears with a good grace, but she refrained.

"Don't be a goose, Elsie," was her flattering remark. "Just as if no one
else in the country could make a decent cake but your Susan! Don't, for
goodness' sake, get sentimental over eatables just because Mr. McNeil
happens to be struck that way."

The tears forgot to fall, the handkerchief was left in a crumpled heap,
hanging half out of her pocket; and as soon as the lump that was in her
throat could be disposed of, Elsie ventured meekly to remark that she "was
sure Lancy would be late if he did not hurry in."

This recalled Hugh to the fact that unless he made good use of the few
remaining minutes, his words to Dexie would be left unsaid; and as Elsie
leaned out the window in hopes of seeing Lancy, he bent forward to Dexie,
saying in a low voice,

"Say that you forgive me, Dexie, before you go. I was wild with pain at the
thought of you leaving me so long with nothing to hope for. I cannot let
you go without a word of forgiveness for my hasty words; you know I never
meant to do it, Dexie, for I would die to save you from harm."

"Very kind of you, I am sure! but pray do not have any funeral on my
account. I feel quite capable of looking after myself, and I hope you will
not make it necessary for me to repeat this assertion in the future. Say no
more about forgiveness; the occurrence is too recent for that, but I will
try to forget it."

"Dexie, do not speak so cruelly. How can I prove that I love you, and that
it wa