One of the simplest laws of natural philosophy is that a thing descends more easily than it ascends. Yet it took those two over four times longer to come down than it had taken them to go up,—which proves that love is superior to all the laws of gravity; though it is not meant to suggest by this that it has aught to do with levity. From among a variety of topics with which they beguiled this slow descent the following sentences are selected: “I can’t believe it yet,” marvelled Champney. “It doesn’t seem as if our happiness could have depended on such a small chance.” “What chance?” “Why—on that evening. When I found your mother wasn’t in, I half turned away, but after hesitating, decided to wait. And then, when I found you two in the morning room, I decided that I would leave you, and go and read in the library. I was just about to say so, when you told me to sit down by you on the sofa. That led to our coming off here together, and really finding out about each other. Of course that was equivalent to my falling desperately in love.” “But you could have done that at home,” laughed Frances, merrily. “No, I should have come off here, and some other man would have won you.” “Champney! I never could love any one but you.” Champney swallowed the absurd statement rapturously. “That’s just like the angel that you are,” he declared. “But I knew you had something to do with our coming,” asserted Frances, “though you did deny it.” “No; like a consummate donkey, I didn’t want to be bothered with you. Conceive of it, dear one, that I could ever think you a bother!” “You didn’t know me,” laughed Frances happily, and with no intention of vanity. “No, I should think not. I wanted your father to take you. But I shall never want any one else to do that in the future.” “But why did you want me to go to Europe, if it wasn’t to be with me?” “Why—um—because, dear one, I saw a little girl that night who was longing so for love that she was accepting a cheap and flashy counterfeit in its stead. I didn’t want her to waste a real heart on such an apology for a man, and so I interfered.” “But how did you know?” cried Frances, looking bewildered. “We had only just—you couldn’t have known it then?” “Yes.” “How?” Champney laughed as he replied: “That’s telling.” ⁂ And now, another leap, please, back to that fireplace, and sofa, again occupied by two—but not the same two—or, at least, only half the same. “Well,” groaned Champney, “I suppose I ought to be going, for you must look your prettiest to-morrow, otherwise malicious people will say it’s a match arranged for the business.” “Let them,” laughed Frances. “By the way, how have you arranged about that? You are such a good business man, and papa and mama are so delighted, that I know you have the best of it.” “Of course I have. And she’s sitting beside me now. But nothing mercenary to-night, Madam,” ordered Champney. “Cupid, not cupidity.”