"She is quite that!" Aunt Emmy interrupted in her turn, with emphasis. "How I am ever to hide her away until I've had her coached not to drop her g's, and to realize that there is a 'u' in the alphabet I don't know, but I'll try. James--I think there are distinct possibilities there." "I knew it!" Jim cried. "I knew you wouldn't be able to resist her! For the Lord's sake, Aunt Emmy, don't let them spoil her! She's so sweet and simple-hearted, don't let them make her cynical and worldly-wise! I'll promise not to speak to her, not to let her know how I feel until you say that I may." "Will you, James?" There was a faint smile about the delicately lined lips. "She is a child in many ways, a blank page for most impressions to be made upon, but in other things she is very much of a woman, and I rather fancy that what you have to tell her will not be so much of a surprise." "You old dear!" Jim sprang to his feet and folded his aunt in his embrace which threatened her coiffure. "Where is she?" "In the library waiting for you, Jamie!" She used the old nursery name, and caught his arm. "She is very young, but the heart sometimes breaks easily then. Don't speak unless you yourself are very sure." Jim smiled, and throwing back his head looked straight into the kindly old eyes. Then without a word he turned and disappeared through the door. * * * * * "And you're going to be happy here?" It was some time later when Jim had explained about the wager, and they were sitting together in the window-seat. "Happy? Why, Jim, I can't believe I'm awake! I'm going to study an' work an' try my best to be like her. Seems to me it'll take the rest of my life, but she says that in a year or two there won't anybody hardly tell the difference." "And then, Lou, when the time is past? What then?" "I don't know." Her tone was serenely unconcerned. "That trail we've followed together for the last week wasn't so bad, was it?" he asked. "You were happy in spite of the hardships?" "It was wonderful!" She drew a deep breath. "I--I wish we could start again, Jim, and do it all over again, every step of the way!" "If you feel like that, dear, perhaps some day when you have finished your studies we will start again on a longer trail." He took one of the little toil-worn hands in his. "The long, long trail, Lou, only we will be together! When that day comes, will you take the new road with me?" She bowed her head, and somehow he found it nestling in the hollow of his shoulder, and his arms were about her. After a long minute, she stirred and smiled. "Well--" she hesitated. "You knew from the very beginning, Jim, that I'd do anything once!" THE END