"Yes, it's better, it'll do," she answered, not quite satisfied, evidently. I wondered why she asked no questions. Why had I come home to this? No wonder David had been surprised at my leaving Diana! What was the use? Then Nannie said with a startling suddenness, "Some one is waiting for you upstairs." "Someone for me, Nannie. What do you mean?" "He's waiting," she said, between laughter and sobs. "He's waiting." I often wonder how I had the strength to go upstairs and open the door. But I did, and there surely enough he stood, only a few feet of green-painted boards separating us. How I crossed them I never knew. He came halfway, no doubt. I should never have done the journey alone, and I wondered too how it was we met as lovers! That was the most wonderful part of all. How, when I did not even know that he cared, could it have happened? It was all too wonderful, and I was too dazed with happiness to question anything at the moment. I only knew that the world had become a paradise, and that the past years of doubt and perplexity had fallen away like a disused garment. Then we began to talk, and the mystery deepened. He spoke of a telegram. I had never received one! And my telegram? I had never sent one! He laughed, and when I said I didn't understand, he said what was the use of understanding when knowing was sufficient? It was all very puzzling, but I was content. There was so much to talk of, so many explanations to make and to hear! But in time we came back to the telegram. There had been no such thing! He laughed. "I have it here," he said, putting his hand on his coat-pocket. "Show it to me," I pleaded. Never; it was his, and his alone. "But nothing is yours now that is not mine," I urged, "at least, if you have asked me to marry you." "Betty," he said, "I quite forgot. I came home for the express purpose of doing so. I have thought and dreamed of nothing else, all through the long marches in Africa; all the way home I have thought of that and of your answer. Betty, will you marry me?" "I shall be delighted, Captain Buchanan. But where is my telegram to you, your telegram to me?" "It. I think Nannie must have one." "And did she answer it? Oh, what did she say?" "Never mind; she said exactly the right thing. Don't let's discuss Nannie's telegram when we have to make up for the silence of years! O Betty! shall I wake up?" A little later he said, "Tell me, did you care that night at the Frasers'?" I said I never remembered a time when I didn't care. "O Betty! if only you hadn't been so proud!" "Or you so horribly ununderstandable!" Chapter XIX "You wonderful Nannie," I said later, as I sat at her feet, "how did you do it?"