so rough! I couldn't help it! I
couldn't go by anything you said. I had to find out for sure! It had
to happen! What does it matter whether it was in a day or a year? The
minute I saw you I knew how it was. I knew I had to have you or live
like a priest till I died."

Colina was not to be comforted. "You think so now!" she said. "Later,
when you have tired of me a little, or if we quarreled, you would
remember that I--I was too easily won!"

"Ah, don't!" he cried exasperated. "If you say it again I'll have to
swear. What more can I say? I love you like my life! I could not
despise you without despising myself! I don't know how to put it. I
sound like a fool! But--but this is what I mean. You make me seem
worth while to myself."

Colina's hands stole to her breast. "Ah! If I could believe you!" she
breathed.

"Give me time!" he begged. "What good does talking do! What I do will
show you!"

Little by little she allowed him to console her. Her arm stole around
his shoulders, her head was lowered until her cheek lay in his hair.

They came down to earth. Ambrose seated himself beside her, and
looking in her shamed face laughed softly and deep. "You fraud," he
said.

Colina hid her face. "Don't!" she begged.

He laughed more.

"What are you laughing at?" she demanded.

"To think how you scared me," he said. "With your grand clothes and
high and mighty airs. I had to dig my toes into the floor to keep from
cutting and running. And it was all bluff!"

"Scared you!" said Colina. "I never in my life knew a man so utterly
regardless and brutal!"

"You like it," he said. Colina blushed.

"I had no line to go on," said Ambrose with his engaging simplicity.
"I never made love to any girls. I haven't read many books either. I
guess that's all guff, anyway. I didn't know how the thing ought to be
carried through. But something told me if I knuckled under to you the
least bit it would be all day with Ambrose."

They laughed together.

John Gaviller's step sounded on the porch outside. They sprang up
aghast. They had completely forgotten his existence.

"Oh, Heavens!" whispered Colina. "He has eyes like a lynx!"

Ambrose's eyes, darting around the room, fell upon an album of
snapshots lying on the table. He flung it open.

When Gaviller came in he found them standing at the table, their backs
to him. He heard Ambrose ask:

"Who is that comical little guy?"

Colina rep