"Yes, and the best of friends, too," responded Phillis, cheerfully, for Nan was too much crushed by all this eloquence to answer. "Come along, Dulce! don't listen any more to this nonsense, when you know mother is wanting us. Dick is all very well when he is in a good humor, but time and dressmaking wait for no man." And the young hypocrite dragged the unwilling Dulce away. "Can't you leave them alone to come to an understanding?" whispered Phillis in her ear, when they got outside the door. "I can see it in his eyes; and Nan is on the verge of crying, she is so upset with the surprise. And, you goose, where are you going now?" "To mother. Did you not say she wanted us?" "Oh, you silly child!" returned Phillis, calmly: "does not mother always want us? One must say what comes uppermost in one's mind in emergencies of this sort. But for me, you would have stood there for an hour staring at them. Mother is out, as it happens: if you like we will go and meet her. Oh, no, I forgot: Dick is a young man, and it would not be proper. Let us go into the kitchen and help Dorothy." And away they went. "Phillis is a trump!" thought Dick, as he shut the door. "I love that girl." And then he marched up to Nan, and took her hands boldly. "Now, Nan you owe me amends for this; at least you will say you are sorry." "No, Dick," hanging her head, for she could not face his look, he was so masterful and determined with her, and so unlike the easy Dick of old. "I am not a bit sorry: I would not have spoiled your holiday for worlds." "My holiday!--a precious holiday it was without you! A lot of stupid climbing, with grinning idiots for company. Well, never mind that," his wrathful tone changing in a moment. "So you kept me in the dark just for my own good?" "Yes, of course, Dick. What an unnecessary question!" "And you wanted me, Nan?" "Yes," very faintly, and there was a little tear-drop on one of Nan's lashes. She had been so miserable,--how miserable he would never know; but he need not have asked her that. "Oh, very well: then I won't bother you with any more questions. Now we understand each other, and can just go to business." Nan looked up in his face in alarm. She anticipated another lecture, but nothing of the sort came. Dick cleared his throat, got a little red, and went on. "I say settle our business, because we have been as good as engaged all these years. You know you belong to me, Nan?" "Yes, Dick," she returned, obediently; for she was too much taken by surprise to know what she ought to say, and the two words escaped from her almost unconsciously. "There never was a time we were not fond of each other,--ever since you were so high," pointing to what would represent the height of an extremely dwarfish infant of seven or eight months. "Oh, not so long ago as that," returned Nan, laughing a little.