"That's what he's here for! Oh, dear! I wish we could stay all afternoon!" This was put forth really as a proposal rather than a wish. But Kate was relentless. "We'll have to hurry," she said firmly. "Well, we've time for a cup of green turtle, a lobster paté and a coupe St. Jacques," said Jack. A whispered order was added, and one of the yellow backs changed hands. The waiter departed. "One would think you had been coming here all your life," said Kate demurely. This was delicious flattery. "I've planned it in dreams," he said. Presently the waiter returned, smiling from ear to ear, and bearing a bunch of violets almost as big as a cart wheel. Their delicious fragrance filled all the air. With a flourish he placed them before Kate. She gasped. "Oh! How wonderful! For me!" "Who do you think?" said Jack. "But--but what shall I do with them?" "Put them on. Any woman can wear violets without hurting." "But what will they think when I get back to the office." "The worst!" said Jack solemnly. "Oh, Mr. Norman!" "Why go back to the office?" asked Jack very offhand. "Oh, Mr. Norman!" she said again, with a scandalized air. "My name is Jack," he said unabashed. She made believe not to hear. "I can't bear to think of you working even for a day longer in that stuffy hole! Why, my first thought when I heard the news was I can take her out of that! What fun will it be for me to fluff around town spending money when you are still jailed there, punishing the alphabet." "What do you mean?" she said, trying to look indignant. "You know what I mean. Or if you don't, look at me and you'll see!" She did not avail herself of the invitation. "You don't seem to have thought much of me. What _I_ might like. Am I nothing to you, but a sort of little follower, a hanger-on to help you spend money!" "Oh, Katy, that's unjust. Look at me! Katy darling, I love you. Will you marry me?" "Somebody will hear you," she murmured glancing nervously around. "That's no answer." "Why--I scarcely know you!" "Time will fix that." "You're not in earnest." "I am! Look at me! I know you well! For months I have thought of you night and day. Oh, I tried to cut you out at first; I thought I was only storing up trouble for myself. Poor devil of a stool-warmer like me. What chance did I have? But I couldn't help myself! Every time I saw your face at the window I forgot my hard-headed resolutions. You see you had me at a disadvantage. I had an ideal of what a lady was, that I got from my mother--but knocking round in cheap boarding houses, well you don't meet that kind. It was just plumb luck my meeting you. First time I heard your voice you just knocked me out. That was what I had wanted--all my life. Look at me! Don't you think I'm in earnest now?" "_Please_, not here!" she murmured.