"Of course I always felt, Jimmy, that you did care for me; something in your manner seemed to suggest it," she whispered. "Also I think Aunt Baffall and Uncle Baffall have thought so too--although anything they said would make not the slightest difference to me. I love them, and all that kind of thing; but there's the end of it. As for Ashby Feak--well, he's very nice as a friend--and I've felt a little sorry for him; but anything else, Jimmy dear, was absolutely out of the question. And I must say that whatever happens I feel easier in my mind about everything." "There's one thing, Alice," said Jimmy, a little lamely--"one thing that's rather important. I haven't mentioned it before, and it is a matter about which you'll have to trust me. Love means trust and confidence, you know--and I've got a secret that I must keep even from you." She looked at him quickly and eagerly; he avoided her eyes. "It's nothing awful--is it?" she asked. "Nothing at all awful," replied Jimmy casually. "It simply means that--well--for a time you would have--we should have, I mean--to wait--to be true to each other, knowing that things will come right in the future. You would have to take my hands in yours, in a manner of speaking, and to say that you trusted me; to walk blindly with me. Afterwards I should be able to tell you why I had kept you and myself waiting. But not yet." "Yes, Jimmy--that sounds very nice," replied Alice, a little doubtfully. "Of course I'm not in any desperate hurry to get married--or--or anything of that sort; but why should we have to wait? If it's money, Aunt and Uncle Baffall are sure to be awfully good to me--and you're becoming a greater man every day. _Do_ tell me what it is, Jimmy? I won't breathe it to a living soul. Please, Jimmy dear?" "It is impossible," replied Jimmy dramatically. "The difficulty--the secret difficulty--may be got rid of--sooner, in fact, than I imagine. But you must trust me. Surely, if you love me, there should be no difficulty about that." "Very well," said Alice after a pause. "It certainly sounds a little romantic--and I love romance. And now, I suppose"--she glanced quickly round the room, and then turned to him--"now, I suppose, we may consider ourselves--what's the horrid word?" "Engaged," said Jimmy, with a smile, but with secret misgiving.