“Yes, Yes. I'm not crazy; it isn't a dream he was there--and I met him--I couldn't run away--I put out my hand; I couldn't help it--I thought I should give way; and he took it; and then--then we were engaged. I don't know what we said: I went in to look at the 'Joan of Arc' again, and there was no one else there. He seemed to feel just as I did. I don't know whether either of us spoke. But we, knew we were engaged, and we began to talk.” Mrs. Pasmer began to laugh. To her irreverent soul only the droll side of the statement appeared. “Don't, mamma!” pleaded Alice piteously. “No, no; I won't. But I hope Dan Mavering will be a little more definite about it when I'm allowed to see him. Why couldn't he have come in with you?” “It would have killed me. I couldn't let him see me cry, and I knew I should break down.” “He'll have to see you cry a great many times, Alice,” said her mother, with almost unexampled seriousness. “Yes, but not yet--not so soon. He must think I'm very gloomy, and I want to be always bright and cheerful with him. He knows why I wouldn't let him come in; he knew I was going to have a cry.” Mrs. Pasmer continued to laugh. “Don't, mamma!” pleaded Alice. “No, I won't,” replied her mother, as before. “I suppose he was mystified. But now, if it's really settled between you, he'll be coming here soon to see your papa and me.” “Yes--to-night.” “Well, it's very sudden,” said Mrs. Pasmer. “Though I suppose these things always seem so.” “Is it too sudden?” asked Alice, with misgiving. “It seemed so to me when it was going on, but I couldn't stop it.” Her mother laughed at her simplicity. “No, when it begins once, nothing can stop it. But you've really known each other a good while, and for the last six weeks at least you've known you own mind about him pretty clearly. It's a pity you couldn't have known it before.” “Yes, that's what he says. He says it was such a waste of time. Oh, everything he says is perfectly fascinating!” Her mother laughed and laughed again. “What is it, mamma? Are you laughing at me?” “Oh no. What an idea!” “He couldn't seem to understand why I didn't say Yes the first time, if I meant it.” She looked down dreamily at her hands in her lap, and then she said, with a blush and a start, “They're very queer, don't you think?” “Who?” “Young men.” “Oh, very.” “Yes,” Alice went on musingly. “Their minds are so different. Everything they say and do is so unexpected, and yet it seems to be just right.”