“You, will let the pines alone to-day,” she calmly said, “go to any other work you choose, but remember those trees are not to be touched.”

“Very well, Miss Margaret,” and Reuben touched his hat respectfully,

“Mr. John is very changeable in his notions,” burst in Tom; “not an hour ago he was in such a hurry to get us at the pine.”

“Never mind,” authoritatively said Miss Greylston; “do just as you are bid, without any remarks;” and she turned away, and went down the meadow path, even as she came, within quick step, without a bonnet, shading her eyes from the morning sun with her handkerchief.

John Greylston still sat at the breakfast-table, half dreamily balancing the spoon across the saucer’s edge.  When his sister came in again, he raised his head, and mutely-inquiringly looked at her, and she spoke,—­

“I left this room just to go after Reuben and Tom; I overtook them before they had crossed the last meadow, and I told them not to touch the pine trees, but to go, instead, to any other work they choose.  I am sure you will be angry with me for all this; but, John, I cannot help it if you are.”

“Don’t say so, Margaret,” Mr. Greylston sharply answered, getting up at the same time from his chair, “don’t tell me you could not help it.  I have talked and reasoned with you about those trees, until my patience is completely worn out; there is no necessity for you to be such an obstinate fool.”

“Oh!  John, hush, hush!”

“I will not,” he thundered.  “I am master here, and I will speak and act in this house as I see fit.  Now, who gave you liberty to countermand my orders; to send my servants back from the Work I had set for them to do?  Margaret, I warn you; for, any more such freaks, you and I, brother and sister though we be, will live no longer under the same roof.”

“Be still, John Greylston!  Remember her patient, self-sacrificing love.  Remember the past—­be still.”

But he would not; relentlessly, stubbornly, the waves of passion raged on in his soul.

“Now, you hear all this; do not forget it; and have done with your silly obstinacy as soon as possible, for I will be worried no longer with it;” and roughly pushing away the slight hand which was laid upon his arm, Mr. Greylston stalked out of the house.

For a moment, Margaret stood where her brother had left her, just in the centre of the floor.  Her cheeks were very white, but quickly a crimson flush came over them, and her eyes filled with tears; then she sat down upon the white chintz-covered settle, and hiding her face in the pillows, wept violently for a long time.