“Yes, I am,” he answered stoutly. “That’s just what I’m doing! And I’m going to keep on doing it until I’m convinced that there’s no hope for me. Please don’t struggle,” he continued, capturing her other hand also. “I’ll let you go in just a moment. Maybe I’m behaving a good deal like a bully, but I’m head-over-heels in love with you, Laura, and――――” “No, no! Please!” she cried, with a little catch in her voice. “What――what have I done?” he asked anxiously. “I――You mustn’t call me that!” “Very well, I won’t――yet. But I think of you as Laura――――” “I don’t want you to!” “Then I’ll try not to,” he answered gently. “But――couldn’t you make me very happy by telling me that I’ve got a chance with you, dear? Just the ghost of a chance?” The bowed head shook negatively. “You won’t? Or――you can’t?” “I――I won’t,” she whispered. He uttered a cry and strove to draw her toward him, but she resisted with all her strength. “Please! _Please!_” she gasped. “I’ll――try not to,” he said ruefully. “But I may call at the house? You’ll let me do that, won’t you?” “I――suppose so,” she murmured faintly. “To-day?” he cried. “To-morrow?” “No, no! Wait, please; let me think.” She raised a pair of troubled eyes to his for an instant. “I must see you again first. I have something to tell you; something which may make a difference. Perhaps――perhaps you won’t want to see me again――then!” He laughed disdainfully. “Try me! And when will you tell me this――this wonderful news? To-morrow morning? Here?” She nodded and strove to release her hands. After a moment of indecision he let them go. She stood before him motionless an instant. Then she raised her head slowly and he saw that her eyes were wet. With an inarticulate cry of pain and longing he started forward, but she held a hand against him. “Please!” she said again, imploringly. His outstretched arms dropped to his sides. “If I shouldn’t come――to-morrow――――” she began. “But you’ve promised!” “I know.” She nodded assent. “But――but if I shouldn’t――――” “But you will!” he cried. “I shall be here, dear! Don’t fail me! If you don’t come I’ll go to the house!” “Then I must,” she said with a little smile. “And now――――” She went to him and placed her hands on his shoulders and felt him tremble under her touch. She raised her eyes, violets darkened and dewy with unshed tears, to his. “Will you do one thing for me?” [Illustration: SHE WENT TO HIM AND PLACED HER HANDS ON HIS SHOULDERS.] His eyes answered. “Then, please,――” she dropped her head in sudden shame――“kiss me once――and let me go.” His arms closed about her hungrily, but she held back. “Promise!” she whispered “Promise to let me go!” “Yes,” he groaned, “I promise.” For an instant he was looking far, far down into dim, wonderful violet depths.... Then he was alone. He turned unseeingly toward the canoe and trod upon the book which lay forgotten on the grass. Stooping, he rescued it and dropped it into his pocket.