"Oh, is it you, Rose ?" he returned, stiffly.

"It's a pleasant evening;" then he turned.
"Barney!" Rose said, and her voice sounded as if she were weeping.
Barney stopped and waited.
"I want to know if--you're mad with me, Barney." "No, of course I ain't; why ?" "I thought you'd acted kind of queer to me lately." Barney stood still, frowning in the darkness.

"I don't know what you mean," he said at length.

"I don't know how I've treated you any different from any of the girls." "You haven't been to see me, and--you've hardly spoken to me since the cherry party." "I haven't been to see anybody," said Barney, shortly; and he turned away again, but Rose caught his arm.

"Then you are sure you aren't mad with me ?" she whispered.
"Of course I'm sure," Barney returned, impatiently.
"It would kill me if you were," Rose whispered.