"No," she said, and like her smile her voice seemed set and tutored. "I shall not catch cold, I never do under any circumstance. But I have just sent Frank in, he has been coughing terribly--he does not seem at all strong." He frowned with swift impatience. "Frank is all right," he said, and there was a touch of jealousy in his voice. "Are you not unduly anxious about the boy--you alarm yourself without cause." "Alarm myself," she repeated, ready to be alarmed at the suggestion. "I--don't think, I hope I am not alarmed. Why should I be?" she said, anxiously. The jealousy grew more pronounced. "There is no reason whatever," he said, shortly. "The boy is all right. He has been getting his feet wet and caught cold, that is all." Stella smiled. "Yes, that is all," she said, "of course. But it is strange Dr. Hamilton doesn't get rid of it for him." "Perhaps he doesn't help the doctor," he retorted. "Boys always are careless about themselves. But don't let Frank absorb all the conversation," he said. "Let us talk of ourselves," and he kissed her hand again. "Yes," said Stella, obediently. He kept her hand in his and pressed it. "I have come to speak to you to-night, Stella, about ourselves, darling. I want you to be very good to me!" She looked forward at the lighted room with the same set expression, waiting patiently, obediently, for him to proceed. There was no response in her touch or in her face. He noticed it--he never failed to notice it, and it maddened him. He set his teeth hard. "Stella, I have been waiting month after month to say what I am going to say now; but I couldn't wait any longer, my darling, my own, I wish the marriage to take place." She did not start, but she turned and looked at him, and her face shone whitely in the darkness, and he felt a faint shudder in the hand imprisoned in his. "Will you not speak?" he said, after a moment, almost angry, because of the tempest of passion and breathed tenderness that possessed him. "Have you nothing to say, or will you say 'no?' I almost expect it." "I will not say no," she said, at last, and her voice was cold and strained. "You have a right--the right I have given you--to demand the fulfillment of our bargain." "Good Heaven!" he broke in, passionately. "Why do you talk like this? Shall I never, never win you to love me? Will you never forget how we came together?" "Do not ask me," she said, almost pleaded, and her face quivered. "Indeed--indeed, I try, try--try hard to forget the past, and to please you!" It was piteous to hear and see her, and his heart ached; but it was for himself as well as for her. "Do you doubt my love?" he said, hoarsely. "Do you think any man could love you better than I do? Does that count as nothing with you?" "Yes, yes," she said, slowly, sadly. "It does count. I--I----" then she looked down. "Why will you speak of love between us?" she said. "Ask me--tell me to do anything, and I will do it, but do not speak of love!" He bit his lip.