Arthur held up his hand suddenly with an entreating gesture. "Senator--and you, Mrs. Winans--will you permit me to make a confession to you?" he asked humbly, eagerly, and all in a breath he confessed the love for Precious that he had been struggling against for weary months because his troth belonged to queenly Ethel. Senator Winans was confused, amazed. His wife sobbed quietly without looking up, and then Arthur said pleadingly: "So all has happened for the best, and I bear no grudge against Miss Winans. I would have made her a good husband, but at heart I should have felt myself a traitor. Ah, senator, will you give me your permission to speak to Precious?" "We cannot give Precious to any one," faltered the senator's wife. "Hush, darling, or Arthur will think we are mercenary, like Ethel. Arthur shall have his chance with the rest, for we cannot hope to keep our darling from loving some one and making him happy as you did me, dear Gracie; so he may woo and win Precious if he can." "I shall speak to her at once," cried the young lover in a tremor of joy, and turning to the door saw Precious standing on the threshold just entering. Ethel had told her the truth with a careless smile; and full of indignation over her sister's cruelty, she had come to seek her parents. But when she saw Arthur she drew back embarrassed. "I--I--thought you were gone!" she murmured blushingly. "No," he answered, and took her hand and drew her forward, saying: "Precious, I have been making a confidant of your parents. They know that Ethel has jilted me, and they have been told also how my heart strayed from her to you. I love you still, and they have given me leave to tell you so. Ah, Precious, there is no barrier between us now, and your heart may speak. Can you learn to love me now, or are you ambitious, like Ethel?" At the name of Ethel the blue eyes flashed, and Precious held out her hand impulsively, exclaiming: "Ethel has treated you wickedly, cruelly; so why should I deny that I love you, Arthur? I will never forgive her for being so heartless, and I love you the better for all your misfortunes!" Senator Winans and his wife kindly turned their heads aside just then, for they could not blame Arthur for kissing their charming daughter. Then he led her to her mother, who embraced her and sighed: "This is so sudden it cannot be real. Are you sure you love Arthur, my darling?" "I have loved him ever since he saved my life, mamma; but he belonged to Ethel, and so I tried to overcome my heart. But I am very glad Ethel did not care for him any more, for now I may love him without shame." "And you can marry me on Thursday instead of Ethel!" exclaimed the happy lover in a burst of hopeful confidence. "Oh, Arthur, you take one's breath away with your hasty plans!" laughed Precious, while her mother clasped her tighter, as though this bold lover were going to kidnap Precious at that very moment. But Arthur persisted: