I need you, but as a man. I need you there,
Claire. I need you badly! No one else could help me as you can!"

Claire's lips quivered, but still she hung back, standing away from him
at the length of her stretched arms.

"I've no money. I'm a--a school-mistress. Your friends will think--"

"I am not considering what my friends will think."

"Your mother thought--"

"I am not asking you to marry my mother. Mothers of only sons are hard
to please, but you know as well as I can tell you that the mater is fond
of you at heart, and that she will grow fonder still. She had her own
ideas, and she fought for them, but she won't fight any more. You
mustn't be hard on the mater, Claire. She has done her best for me to-
day."

"I know! I know! I was sorry for her. Sorrier than I was for myself.
It's so hard that I should have come between you two!"

At that Erskine laughed, a short, impatient laugh.

"Oh, Claire, Claire, how long are you going to waste time in discussing
other people's feelings, before you tell me about your own? Darling,
I'm in love with you!--I'm in love for the first time in my life. I'm
impatient. I'm waiting. There's no one in the world for me at this
moment but just yourself; I'm waiting for you to forget every one but
me. Do you love me, Claire?"

"You know I do! You know I do! Oh!" cried Claire, yielding to the
strength of the strong arms, and resting her head on the broad shoulder
with an unspeakable rush of joy and rest. "Oh, but you don't know how
much! I can't tell you--I can't put it into words, but it's my whole
heart, my whole life! Oh, every _thought_ has been with you for such a
long, long time."

"My darling! My own sweet, brave little girl! And my thoughts with
you! Thank God, we shall be together now. We have had enough of
separation and chance meetings. There must be an end of that. You'll
have to marry me at once!"

This was rushing ahead with a vengeance! Claire shook her head, with a
little laugh sweet as a chime of joy bells.

"You ridiculous--boy! I can't. It's impossible. You forget my work.
There's all next term. I couldn't possibly leave without giving
notice."

"Couldn't you! We'll see to that. Do you seriously believe that I'm
going to let you go back to that drudgery, and kick my heels waiting for
four months? You don't understand the kind of man you are marrying, my
lass!"

Claire loved the sound of that "my lass," loved the clos