“Of course I read it, but I couldn’t understand it. You said you’d made a mistake, and a lot of foolishness like that, and had decided you couldn’t marry me. Wasn’t that it?” “Yes, that was it――in a way,” answered Holly. “Well, I mean it, Julian.” Julian stared across impatiently. “Now don’t be silly, Holly! Who’s been talking about me? Has that fellow Winthrop been putting fool notions into your head?” “No, Julian.” “Then what―――― Oh, well, I dare say I’ll be able to stand it,” he said, petulantly. “Don’t be angry, Julian, please,” begged Holly. “I want you to understand it, dear.” Holly indulged in endearments very seldom, and Julian melted. “But, hang it, Holly, you talk as though you didn’t care for me any more!” he exclaimed. “No, I’m not talking so at all,” she answered, gently. “I do care for you――a heap. I always have and always will. But I――I don’t love you as――as a girl loves the man who is to be her husband, Julian. I tried to explain that in my letter. You see, we’ve always been such good friends that it seemed sort of natural that we should be sweethearts, and then I reckon we just fell into thinking about getting married. I don’t believe you ever asked me to marry you, Julian; I――I just took it for granted, I reckon!” “Nonsense!” he exclaimed. “I don’t reckon you ever did,” she persisted, with a little smile for his polite disclaimer. “But I’ve always thought of marrying you, and it seemed all right until――until lately. I don’t reckon I ever thought much about what it meant. We’ve always been fond of each other and so it――it seemed all right, didn’t it?” “It _is_ all right, Holly,” he answered, earnestly. He changed his seat to where he could take her hand. “You’ve been thinking about things too much,” he went on. “I reckon you think that because I don’t come over oftener and write poetry to you and all that sort of thing that I don’t love you. Every girl gets romantic notions at some time or other, Holly, and I reckon you’re having yours. I don’t blame you, Sweetheart, but you mustn’t get the notion that I don’t love you. Why, you’re the only woman in the world for me, Holly!” “I don’t reckon you’ve known so very many women, Julian,” said Holly. “Haven’t I, though? Why, I met dozens of them when I was at college.” There was a tiny suggestion of swagger. “And some of them were mighty clever, too, and handsome. But there’s never been anyone but you, Holly, never once.” Holly smiled and pressed the hand that held hers captive. “That’s dear of you, Julian,” she answered. “But you must get over thinking of me――in that way.” He drew back with an angry flush on his face and dropped her hand. There was an instant’s silence. Then: “You mean you won’t marry me?” he demanded, hotly. “I mean that I don’t love you in the right way, Julian.”