He got up and began pacing the floor. She leaned back in her chair, deliberately giving him time to straighten out his thoughts for himself. Wiser than she knew herself to be, she held back the warm, loving words of encouragement, of gratitude, of belief. But she was not prepared for the impetuous appeal that followed. He threw himself down beside her and grasped her hands in his. His face seemed suddenly old and haggard, his eyes burned like coals of fire. Then, for the first time, she had an inkling of the great struggle that had been going on inside of him for weeks and weeks. “Listen, Lyddy,” he began nervously; “will you marry me to-morrow? Are you willing to take the chance that I'll be able to support you, to earn enough------” “Why, Freddy!” she cried, half starting up from the couch. She was dumbfounded. “Will you? Will you? I mean it,” he went on, almost argumentatively. He was very much in earnest, but alas! the fire, the passion of the importunate lover was missing. She shrank back into the corner of the couch, staring at him with puzzled eyes. Comprehension was slow in arriving. As he hurried on with his plea she began to see clearly, her sound brain grasped the significance of this sudden decision on his part. “There's no use waiting, dear. I'll never be more capable of earning a living than I am right now. I can go into the office with Brooks any day, and I--I think I can make good. God knows, I can try hard enough. Brooks says he's got a place there for me in the bond department. It won't be much at first, but I can work into a pretty good--what's the matter? Don't you think I can do it? Have you no faith in me? Are you afraid to take a chance?” She had smiled sadly--it seemed to him reprovingly. His cheek flushed. “What has put all this into your head, Freddy dear?” she asked shrewdly. “Why, good Lord, haven't we had this very thing in mind for years?” he cried. “Haven't we talked about my------” “What put it into your head--just now?” she insisted. “I don't know what you're driving at,” he floundered. “Don't you think it would be safer--I mean wiser if you were to wait until you are quite certain of yourself, Freddy?” “I am certain of myself,” he exploded. “What do you mean? What sort of talk is this you are------” “Hush! Don't be angry, dear. Be honest now. Don't you understand just what I mean?” They looked squarely into each other's eyes. “I want you to marry me at once,” said he doggedly. “You know I love you, Lyddy. Is there anything more to say than that?” “Don't you want to tell me, Freddy?” His eyes wavered. “I can't go on living as I have been for the past few months. I've just got to end it, Lyddy. You don't understand--you can't, and there isn't any use in trying to explain the----” “I think I do understand, dear,” she said quietly, laying her hand on his. “I understand so completely that there isn't any use in your trying to explain. But don't you think you are a bit cowardly?”