Have you been at that place--what do you call it ?--the Dead Church, all day ?" "Yes, and the experiments went beautifully." "Did they, did they indeed ?" commented her father in an uninterested voice.

The fate of the experiments did not move him.

"Isn't it very lonely up there in that old church ?" "I prefer to be alone--generally." "I know, I know.

Forgive me; but you are a very odd woman, my dear." "Perhaps, father; but not more so than those before me, am I?
Most of them were a little different from other people, I have been told." "Quite right, Stella; they were all odd women, but I think that you are quite the oddest of the family." Then, as though the subject were disagreeable to him, he added suddenly: "Mr.Layard came to see me to-day." "So he told me," answered Stella.
"Oh, you have met him.

I remember; he said he should call in at the Dead Church, as he had something to say to you." Stella determined to get the conversation over, so she forced the pace.
She was a person who liked to have disagreeable things behind her.
Drawing herself up, she answered steadily: "He did call in, and--he said it." "What, my dear, what ?" asked Mr.Fregelius innocently.
"He asked me to marry him, father; I think he told me with your consent." Mr.Fregelius, auguring the very best from this openness, answered in tones which he could not prevent from betraying an unseemly joy.
"Quite true, Stella; I told him to go on and prosper; and really I hope he has prospered." "Yes," said Stella reflectively.
"Then, my dear love, am I to understand that you are engaged to him ?" "Engaged to him! Certainly not," she answered.
"Then," snapped out her justly indignant parent, "how in the name of Heaven has he prospered ?" "By my refusing him, of course.