I stuck the little bundle he gave me in my coat-tail pocket; but by the time I passed the Widow Jones' house I was so taken up with the business on hand that I forgot all about the stockings. I could see Miss Marigold sitting at the piano and hear her singing as I passed the window. It was awful nice, and, to prolong the pleasure, I stayed outside about half an hour, then a summer shower came up, and I made up my mind and rang the bell. Jane came to the door. "Is the squire at home?" says I. "No, sir, he's down to the hotel; but Miss Marigold, she's to hum," said the black girl, grinning. "Won't you step in? Miss will be dreffle sorry her pa is out." She took my hat and opened the parlor door; there was a general dazzle, and I bowed to somebody and sat down somewhere, and in about two minutes the mist cleared away, and I saw Belle Marigold, with a rose in her hair, sitting not three feet away, and smiling at me as if coaxing me to say something. "Quite a shower?" I remarked. "Indeed--is it raining?" said she. "Yes, indeed," said I; "it came up very sudden." "I hope you didn't get wet?" said she, with a sly look. "Not this time," said I, trying to laugh. "Does it lighten?" said she. "A few," said I. Miss Marigold coughed and looked out of the window. There was a pause in our brilliant conversation. "I think we shall have a rainy night," I resumed. "I'm _so_ afraid of thunder," said she. "I shall not sleep a bit if it thunders. I shall sit up until the rain is over. I never like to be alone in a storm. I always want some one _close by me_," she said, with a little shiver. [Illustration: "I'M SO FRIGHTENED, MR. FLUTTER," SAID SHE; "I FEEL, IN MOMENTS LIKE THESE, HOW SWEET IT WOULD BE TO HAVE SOME ONE TO CLING TO."] I hitched my chair about a foot nearer hers. It thundered pretty loud, and she gave a little squeal, and brought her chair alongside mine. "I'm so frightened, Mr. Flutter," said she: "I feel, in moments like these, how sweet it would be to have someone to cling to." And she glanced at me out of the corner of her eye. "Dear Belle," said I, "would you--would you--could you--now--" "What?" whispered she, very softly. "If I thought," I stammered, "that you could--that you would--that it was handy to give me a drink of water." She sprang up as if shot, and rang a little hand-bell. "Jane, a glass of water for this gentleman--_ice_-water," in a very chilly tone, and she sat down over by the piano. Bashful fool and idiot that I was. I had lost another opportunity. After I had swallowed the water Jane had left the room. I bethought me of the handsome present which I had in my pocket, and, hoping to regain her favor by that, I drew out the little package and tossed it carelessly in her lap. "Belle," said I, "I have not forgotten that I spilled lemonade on your sash; I hope you will not refuse to allow me to make such amends as are in my power. If the color does not suit you, I will exchange it for any you may select."