ration for the
other sex, you haven't married, Miss Leigh. You must have had countless
opportunities; child-like faith, such as yours, must be very attractive
to them."

I stared at her a moment in silence; her insolence stupefied me. Then I
think I opened the nearest window, and pitched her out. Mrs. Purblind
insists I did not do that, exactly, but that I got rid of her. As she
hasn't been in since, a desirable result was obtained, and I don't much
care what the method may have been.

I aired my house the rest of the day, having a wish to cleanse it, and
protect my moral nature, much as one would rid a place of sewer gas, to
protect the physical being.

I was not in a very good temper after all this, and it annoyed me to see
Randolph Chance coming in before taking his train. He had been calling
oftener than usual of late, but he didn't seem to have much to say, and
so his coming gave no especial pleasure.

To-day what talk we had ran on flowers for a time, when Mr. Chance,
awkwardly and out-of-placedly, asked me how I liked the _Reve d'or_
rose. This was the kind of rose I had received every morning, during my
illness.

I looked at him inquiringly. I confess my heart was beating faster.

He flushed, and said abruptly:

"You must have known I sent you those."

"I did not," I answered rather coldly; "there was no card or note with
them."

"I thought you'd know," he said with increasing embarrassment; and then
he added, almost desperately, "you must know, Constance, that I love
you."

"I know nothing," I replied, drawing myself up haughtily; "I take
nothing of this kind for granted. If you want me to understand, you must
come out openly."

"I have done enough, surely," he said, "enough to lead you to guess the
truth."

"I guess nothing of this sort!" I reiterated; "what right have you to
place me in this position? What right have you, or any other man to
deprive a woman of one of her dearest privileges--that of being wooed?"

"Constance!" he cried, and all his embarrassment was gone, "aren't there
a thousand ways of saying 'I love you?' and haven't I said it in every
way but one?"

"That one was the most important of all," I answered; "I would have
given more to hear those words than to receive every other token."

His face lighted up with a sudden flash, and he started impulsively
toward me.

"Then you _do_ love me, my darling--I have hardly dared to hope."

But I drew back, and answered passionat