Lawrence went into the hall and to the foot of the stairs. With his hand on the post, he paused. He stood there an instant, then he turned back. He rejoined the girl on the piazza. She had walked to the railing and was leaning both hands upon it. Lawrence caught a glimpse of her profile, and his own face grew tender at sight of it. "Where in the world have my eyes been?" he asked himself. She turned quickly as he came through the door. "I came back because I was afraid Aunt Tishy would call you," he said. "Oh!" "Yes." Then the two stood in silence. "You see, I wanted to ask you about that man person who was hanging around you when I was at home the last time." "What man person?" "No wonder you don't know. I ought to be more specific. I mean the Morgan fellow." "Nothing about him that I know." Lawrence flung back his shoulders. His eyes began to sparkle. "All the better for me, then," he exclaimed. "Caro," he went on, more softly, "do you think you could possibly make up your mind to marry me?" There was a moment's silence, during which the girl's eyes were drooped. She had not flushed; she had grown white. "Could you do it?" he repeated, gently. He bent and took her hand. She withdrew it. "I'm sorry you've asked me this," she said. To these words he made no reply. His face grew a trifle set. "Because," she went on, hesitatingly,--"because I feel almost sure--at least I'm afraid--" "Well?" He spoke peremptorily. "I'm nearly certain that you don't know surely that--that you've stopped loving Prudence." He burst into a laugh; but he stopped laughing directly. He took her hand again. "Is that all?" he asked. "Yes; I think that's all. And that's quite enough. You see, I was here when you were in love with her; I know something about how you loved her. You did love her. And you can't have forgotten it in less than two years. Why, I couldn't forget such an experience in a lifetime. It must have been like--like fire sweeping over your heart." "But a man comes to his senses; a man gets over everything, you know. And I've had my lesson." Lawrence was speaking eagerly now. His whole face began to glow. "If you could only say yes to me, dear Caro!" he went on. "If you feel hopeful that you could learn to love me,--tell me, do you think you could learn?" She smiled, and Lawrence asked himself why he had never before particularly noticed her smile. "I think I could learn," she said, at last. "Then you are promised to me? Caro, say, 'Rodney, I am promised to you.'" He had drawn her more closely. "Say it." "Rodney, I am promised to you." "Thank you, dear little girl, thank you. We shall be as happy as the day is long. I begin to be happy already." She looked up at him wistfully. Her features were not quite steady. "Oh," she whispered, "I hope you haven't made a mistake!" "I'm sure I've not." He kissed her, but she shrank a little from him. She put her hand on his breast, and thrust him from her.