Insignificant as the event really was, it stood as a symbol of the whole miserable situation to me. It was just enough to startle me into contempt for myself. That night Breck came stealing down to me along the dark roads in his quiet car about eleven-thirty. I knew he had been to the Jackson dinner and was surprised to find he had changed into street clothes. He was more eager than ever in his greeting. "Come down into the sunken garden," he pleaded. "I've got something to say to you." It was light in the garden. There was a full September moon. I stood beside the bird-bath and put a forefinger in it. I could hear Breck breathing hard beside me. I was sure he had broken his pledge and had been drinking. "Well?" I said at last, calmly, looking up. He answered me silently, vehemently. "Don't, please, _here_. It's so fearfully light. Don't, Breck," I said. "I've got the car," he whispered. "It will take us two hours. I've got it all planned. It's a peach of a night. You've got to come. I'm not for waiting any longer. You've got to marry me tonight, you little fish! I'll wake you up. Do you hear me? Tonight in two hours. I'm not going to hang around any longer. You've got to come!" I managed to struggle away. "Don't talk like that to me. It's insulting! Don't!" I said. "Insulting! Say, ring off on that--will you? Insulting to ask a girl to marry you! Say, that's good! Well, insulting or not, I've made up my mind not to hang around any longer. I'll marry you tonight or not at all! You needn't be afraid. I've got it all fixed up--license and everything." He whipped a paper out of his pocket. "We'll surprise 'em, we will--you and I. I'm mad about you, and always have been. The mater--huh! Be a shock to her--but she'll survive." "I wouldn't elope with the king of England!" I said hotly. "What do you think I am? Understand this, Breck. I require all the honors and high ceremonies that exist." "Damn it," he said, "you've been letting me come here without much ceremony every night, late, on the quiet. What have you got to say to that? I'm tired of seeing you pose on that high horse of yours. Come down. You know as well as I you've been leading me along as hard as you could for the last week. Good Lord--what for? Say, what's the game? I don't know. But listen--if you don't marry me _now_, then you never will. There's a limit to a man's endurance. Come, come, you can't do better for yourself. You aren't so much. The mater will never come around. She's got her teeth set. The car's ready. I shan't come again." "Wait a minute," I said. "I'll be back in a minute." And I went straight into the house and upstairs to my room, knelt down before my bureau and drew out a blue velvet box. Breck's ring was inside. Just as I was stealing down the stairs again, ever-on-the-guard, Edith appeared in the hall in her nightdress. "What are you after?" she asked. For answer I held out the box toward her. She came down two or three of the stairs.