He moved restlessly, then stood up, with Diana's note still in his hand. "You'd better write and tell her you'll come," he said. "I'll take you over to-morrow in my car." She surveyed him wistfully. "Oh, must you really go?" "Yes. There's the old man with the pneumonia, and the girl with appendicitis, and the new baby at the hospital--I can't neglect them, Bettina." "When we are married," she asked, tremulously, "will all these sick people keep you from me----" "A doctor belongs to his patients, my dear----" "I suppose he does," pensively, "but I shall be terribly jealous of your old men with the pneumonia, and your girls with appendicitis. I shall want you." If she had hoped to please him by her frank avowal she failed, for he stood looking at her with an expression which made her say hastily, "Don't you want me to want you?" "I was wondering if I could make you happy." She gave a little musical note of protest. "I am the happiest girl in the world, except--oh, if mother could only know." With a quick change of mood, she was sobbing in his arms. The masses of her hair lay soft against his lips, one slim white hand crept to touch his cheek. He imprisoned the small hand in his. "We must have a ring for this soon," and she shifted her head so that she could look up at him from under wet lashes. "Oh," she said, "shall I?" "Of course. What shall it be?" "Anything but pearls; they mean tears, you know." With a quick throb of the heart, he remembered that Diana always wore pearls. Was there something after all in the old superstition, and were the rest of Diana's days to be dreary because she had chosen the wrong jewels? _Diana, Diana, Diana_, would his mind never leave her? Then as if his thought had brought her, he heard her voice upon the stairs. "May I come up? I rang, but no one answered." "The bell is broken." He hurried out into the hall, and watched her ascend, with her arms full of white lilacs, her gray eyes shaded by a white veil thrown back from a broad hat, and around her throat the inevitable string of pearls. "I've come to bring some of my flowers to your little Betty child, and to get her answer to my note." She was smiling now, smiling at him, and at Bettina, who had come forward timidly. Diana laid the lilacs on the table, and drew the girl into her arms. "When shall it be, my dear? It seems such a perfect plan to me. The big house isn't finished. You can't go into it until fall, and I can help you get things ready. What do you think, Anthony?" "I don't know. I'll leave it to your wisdom." "Then I am sure it will be best," she responded cheerfully, "and now, why not to-morrow?" "I haven't anything to wear," Bettina stated, anxiously. "There's a sewing woman at the house, and Sophie and I have brought lots of things from Paris." "Really? And will you tell me all about your trip?" "Sophie will tell you. She's the talker. I like to listen--Anthony knows that."