“Is there any thing the matter?” I exclaimed, starting to my feet and hastening to meet him.  He led me back again silently to my seat, and sat down beside me, still in silence.  Strange conduct in Dr. John!

“Tell me what is the matter,” I said, not doubting now that there was some trouble at hand.  Dr. John’s face flushed, and he threw his hat down on the grass, and pushed his hair back from his forehead.  Then he laid his hand upon mine, for a moment only.

“Olivia,” he said, very seriously, “do you love me?”

The question came upon me like a shock from a galvanic battery.  He and I had been very frank and friendly together; a pleasant friendship, which had seemed to me as safe as that of a brother.  Besides, he knew all that Martin had done and borne for my sake.  With my disappointment there was mingled a feeling of indignation against his treachery toward his friend.  I sat watching the glistening of the water through the pillars of the parapet till my eyes were dazzled.

“I scarcely understand what you say,” I answered, after a long pause; “you know I care for you all.  If you mean, do I love you as I love your father and Monsieur Laurentie, why, yes, I do.”

“Very good, Olivia,” he said.

That was so odd of him, that I turned and looked steadily into his face.  It was not half as grave as before, and there was a twinkle in his eyes as if another half minute would make him as gay and light-hearted as ever.

“Whatever did you come and ask me such a question for?” I inquired, rather pettishly.

“Was there any harm in it?” he rejoined.

“Yes, there was harm in it,” I answered; “it has made me very uncomfortable.  I thought you were going out of your mind.  If you meant nothing but to make me say I liked you, you should have expressed yourself differently.  Of course, I love you all, and all alike.”

“Very good,” he said again.

I felt so angry that I was about to get up, and go away to my own room; but he caught my dress, and implored me to stay a little longer.

“I’ll make a clean breast of it,” he said; “I promised that dear old dolt Martin to come straight to you, and ask you if you loved me, in so many words.  Well, I’ve kept my promise; and now I’ll go and tell him you say you love us all, and all alike.”

“No,” I answered, “you shall not go and tell him that.  What could put it into Dr. Martin’s head that I was in love with you?”

“Why shouldn’t you be in love with me?” retorted Dr. John; “Martin assures me that I am much handsomer than he is—­a more eligible parti in every respect.  I suppose I shall have an income, apart from our practice, at least ten times larger than his.  I am much more sought after generally; one cannot help seeing that.  Why should you not be in love with me?”

I did not deign to reply to him, and Jack leaned forward a little to look into my face.