"Do you mean----" Wolf began. Then his expression changed, and his colour rose. "Norma--you don't mean that!" "Yes, but I do!" she said, exquisite and flushed and laughing, in the sweet early sunlight. "You mean that you will marry me?" Wolf asked, dazedly. "To-day!" she answered, fired by his look of awe and amazement and rapture all combined. "I want to be safe," she added, quickly. "I trust you more than any other man I know--I've loved you like a little sister all my life." "Ah--Norma, you darling--you darling!" he said. "But are you sure?" "Oh, quite sure!" Norma turned him toward Broadway, her little arm linked wife-fashion in his. "Don't we go along together nicely?" she asked, gaily. "Norma--my God! If you knew how I love you--how I've longed for you! But I can't believe it; I never will believe it! What made you do it?" Her face sobered for a second. "Just needing you, I suppose! Wolf"--her colour rose--"I want you to know who it is; it's Chris." "Who--the man who annoys you?" Wolf asked in healthy distaste. "The man I'm afraid of," she answered, honestly. "But--Lord!" Wolf exclaimed, simply, "he has a wife!" "I know it!" the girl said, quickly. "But I wanted you to know. I want you to know why I'm running away from them all." Relief rang in her voice as his delighted eyes showed no cloud. "That's all!" she said. "Norma, I can't--my God!--I can't tell whether I'm awake or dreaming!" Wolf was all joy again. "We'll--wait a minute!--we'll get a taxi; I'll telephone the factory later----" He paused suddenly. "Mother's in East Orange with Rose. Shall we go there first?" "No; you're to do as I say from now on, Wolf!" "Ah, you darling!" "And I say let's be married first, and then go and see Rose." "Norma----" He stopped in the street, and put his two hands on her shoulders. "I'll be a good husband to you. You'll never be sorry you trusted me. Dearest, it's--well, it's the most wonderful thing that ever happened in my whole life! Here's our taxi--wait a minute; what day is this?" "Whatever else it is," she said, half-laughing and half-crying, "I know it is my wedding day!" CHAPTER XXIV