ntered; she
had been sitting all the while on the loft ladder, and had drawn her
kapje down very much over her face.

Gregory was piecing together the bits of an envelope when she came in.

"I thought you were never coming," he said, turning round quickly, and
throwing the fragments onto the floor. "You know I have been shearing
all day, and it is ten o'clock already."

"I'm sorry. I did not think you would be going so soon," she said in a
low voice.

"I can't hear what you say. What makes you mumble so? Well, good night,
Em."

He stooped down hastily to kiss her.

"I want to talk to you, Gregory."

"Well, make haste," he said pettishly. "I'm awfully tired. I've been
sitting here all the evening. Why couldn't you come and talk before?"

"I will not keep you long," she answered very steadily now. "I think,
Gregory, it would be better if you and I were never to be married."

"Good Heaven! Em, what do you mean? I thought you were so fond of me?
You always professed to be. What on earth have you taken into your head
now?"

"I think it would be better," she said, folding her hands over each
other, very much as though she were praying.

"Better, Em! What do you mean? Even a woman can't take a freak all
about nothing! You must have some reason for it, and I'm sure I've done
nothing to offend you. I wrote only today to my sister to tell her to
come up next month to our wedding, and I've been as affectionate and
happy as possible. Come--what's the matter?"

He put his arm half round her shoulder, very loosely.

"I think it would be better," she answered, slowly.

"Oh, well," he said, drawing himself up, "if you won't enter into
explanations you won't; and I'm not the man to beg and pray--not to any
woman, and you know that! If you don't want to marry me I can't oblige
you to, of course."

She stood quite still before him.

"You women never do know your own minds for two days together; and
of course you know the state of your own feelings best; but it's very
strange. Have you really made up your mind, Em?"

"Yes."

"Well, I'm very sorry. I'm sure I've not been in anything to blame. A
man can't always be billing and cooing; but, as you say, if your feeling
for me has changed, it's much better you shouldn't marry me. There's
nothing so foolish as to marry some one you don't love; and I only wish
for your happiness, I'm sure. I daresay you'll find some one can make
you much happier than I could; the first per