he dared not
say. "I should like you to treat me the same as you do Mr. Glover," he
said nervously.

"I'll do that with pleasure," said Annis promptly. In spite of herself
her lips quivered and her eyes danced.

"I've loved you ever since the first time I saw you!" said Wilson with
sudden vehemence.

Utterly unprepared for this direct attack, Miss Gething had no weapon
to meet it. The tables were turned, and reddening with confusion, she
looked away and made no reply.

"I've spent days walking up and down the road the school is in because
you were there," continued Wilson. "I've wondered sometimes that the
school children didn't notice it."

Miss Gething turned to him a cheek which was of the richest carmine, "If
it's any pleasure to you to know it, they did," she said viciously. "I
taught one small infant the blessing of silence by keeping her in three
afternoons."

"I can't help it," said Wilson. "You'll have to keep the whole school in
before I get over my fondness for that road. What did she say?"

"Suppose we get back," said Annis coldly, and turning, walked silently
beside him. Neither spoke until they reached the lane again, and then
Wilson stopped and met her gaze full and fair. Miss Gething, after a
brave trial, abandoned the contest and lowered her eyes.

"Will you serve us both alike?" said Wilson in a low voice.

"No," said Annis. She looked up at him shyly and smiled. A light broke
in upon him, and seizing her hand he drew her towards him.

"No," said Annis, drawing back sharply; "it wouldn't be right."

Afraid he had gone too far, Wilson's cowardice got the better hand
again. "What wouldn't?" he asked, with an awkward attempt at innocence.
A tiny but ominous sparkle in Miss Gething's eye showed her opinion of
this unfairness.

"I beg your pardon," he said humbly.

"What for?" asked Miss Gething innocently in her turn.

Soon tired of devious paths, in which he lost himself, Wilson tried a
direct one again. "For trying to kiss you and then pretending I didn't
know what you meant when you refused," he said bluntly.

"Captain Wilson!" said Miss Gething breathlessly, "I--I don't know what
you mean."

"Yes you do," said Wilson calmly.

The sparkle came in Miss Gething's eye again, then she bit her lip and
turned her head away miserably realizing her inability to treat this
transgressor with the severity that he deserved.

"This is the first time you have ever said things of this sort to a