“Do go!” Joe called after her, vehemently.  “Go!  Just to show what a fool you are to think ’Gene’s in earnest.”

He would have followed, but his step-brother caught him by the arm.  “Don’t stop her,” said Eugene.  “Can’t you tell when I am in earnest, you bally muff!”

“I know you are,” returned the other, in a low voice.  “I didn’t want her to think so for your sake.”

“Thousands of thanks,” said Eugene, airily.  “You are a wise young judge.  She couldn’t stay—­ in that state, could she?  I sent her for her own good.”

“She could have gone in the house and your mother might have loaned her a jacket,” returned Joe, swallowing.  “You had no business to make her go out in the street like that.”

Eugene laughed.  “There isn’t a soul in sight —­and there, she’s all right now.  She’s home.”

Ariel had run along the fence until she came to the next gate, which opened upon a walk leading to a shabby, meandering old house of one story, with a very long, low porch, once painted white, running the full length of the front.  Ariel sprang upon the porch and disappeared within the house.

Joe stood looking after her, his eyelashes winking as had hers.  “You oughtn’t to have treated her that way,” he said, huskily.

Eugene laughed again.  “How were you treating her when I came up?  You bully her all you want to yourself, but nobody else must say even a fatherly word to her!”

“That wasn’t bullying,” explained Joe.  “We fight all the time.”

“Mais oui!” assented Eugene.  “I fancy!”

“What?” said the other, blankly.

“Pick up that banjo-case again and come on,” commanded Mr. Bantry, tartly.  “Where’s the mater?”

Joe stared at him.  “Where’s what?”

“The mater!” was the frowning reply.

“Oh yes, I know!” said Joe, looking at his step-brother curiously.  “I’ve seen it in stories.  She’s up-stairs.  You’ll be a surprise.  You’re wearing lots of clothes, ’Gene.”

“I suppose it will seem so to Canaan,” returned the other, weariedly.  “Governor feeling fit?”

“I never saw him,” Joe replied; then caught himself.  “Oh, I see what you mean!  Yes, he’s all right.”

They had come into the hall, and Eugene was removing the long coat, while his step-brother looked at him thoughtfully.

“’Gene,” asked the latter, in a softened voice, “have you seen Mamie Pike yet?”

“You will find, my young friend,” responded Mr. Bantry, “if you ever go about much outside of Canaan, that ladies’ names are not supposed to be mentioned indiscriminately.”

“It’s only,” said Joe, “that I wanted to say that there’s a dance at their house to-night.  I suppose you’ll be going?”

“Certainly.  Are you?”

Both knew that the question was needless; but Joe answered, gently: 

“Oh no, of course not.”  He leaned over and fumbled with one foot as if to fasten a loose shoe-string.  “She wouldn’t be very likely to ask me.”