She laughed and put her hand upon his lips.
“Don’t say rude things of my nice aunt and uncle. They are a great deal kinder to me than I deserve, for I did not always treat them very nicely.”
“Stuff! you were an angel; it was they who bullied you, and that Effie always wanted to come between us.”
“No, she didn’t; that is all your fancy. Effie is much nicer than you think, and is getting more sensible and stronger every week. She will be on our side, I know. And, Ronald, I only want us to be reasonable and unselfish, and not put ourselves and our affairs first. If you asked Miss Adene, she would tell you just the same.”
“I know she would,” said Ronald, laughing, and then in a graver voice he added, “Yes, Sheila, you are quite right; one must learn to take the second place, and think of other people as well as oneself. If you can be patient, so can I; and I love you all the better for your unselfishness.”
“I wish I were unselfish,” said Sheila with a sigh. “I am only trying to be, and it does not seem quite so hard when one is very, very happy.”
Then Ronald bent over her, kissed her once more, picked up the fallen flowers, and walked towards the house.
(To be concluded.)