"Um, yes. I suppose I must admit that there is that possibility. Any way if you'll try to get her to let me talk to her I'll be grateful to you evermore," and Edward got up and strolled away to compliment the participants in the program, leaving Ethel Blue more excited than she had ever been in her life, even just before she went up in an aeroplane, because she was touching the edges of an adventure in real life. It was embarrassing to broach the subject to Miss Merriam. She was sweetness itself, but she was dignified to a degree that forbade any encroachment upon her private affairs, and twice when Ethel Blue's lips were actually parted to plead in Edward's behalf her courage failed her. "Mr. Clark is deaf," said Ethel Blue abruptly. "Edward Watkins didn't say he 'thought' you were going away; he said he 'hoped' you were going away." "Oh!" exclaimed Miss Gertrude, turning a startled face toward Ethel. "He hoped so because he loves you and he wants to ask you to marry him but he can't until he has a good practice, and he doesn't know whether you would like Oklahoma." "Whether I'd like Oklahoma!" repeated Gertrude slowly. "He wants to explain it all to you but you won't let him speak to you. He's had a good practice offered him in Oklahoma, but he won't go if you don't like Oklahoma; he'll try to work up a practice here, but it will take such a long time." "Ethel Blue, do you really know what you're talking about?" "Yes, Miss Gertrude," replied Ethel, blushing uncomfortably, but keeping on with determination. "Please don't think I'm awful, 'butting in' like this. Dr. Watkins asked me to ask you to let him see you. He tried a long time without telling any one; he told me when he couldn't think of anything else to do. He didn't really know why you were mad until I told him; he just knew you wouldn't see him when he called." Miss Gertrude's eyes were on her fragile pink work as Ethel Blue blundered on. "What shall I tell him?" she said, breaking the silence. "You may tell him," said Gertrude slowly, "that I have a school friend in Oklahoma who tells me that Oklahoma is a very good place to live." Ethel Blue clapped her hands noiselessly. "But tell him, also," Gertrude went on, her blue eyes stern, "that I shall be too busy to see him before he goes." "Oh, Miss Gertrude!" ejaculated Ethel, disappointed. "I don't quite know whether you care or not." "Neither do I," replied Gertrude, and she leaned over and kissed Ethel Blue with lips that smiled sadly. CHAPTER XII WEST POINT Ethel Blue gave Gertrude Merriam's message to Edward Watkins who was as much puzzled by it as she had been. "What does she mean?" he asked. "Does she care for me or doesn't she?" "She doesn't know herself. I asked her." Edward whistled a long, soft whistle. "Aren't girls the queerest things ever made!" he ejaculated in wonder.