being
here alone with you like this. I don't think you had better come in with
me."

"That's rather unpleasant, dear."

"Yes, it is, and I wanted you to have some tea as well as myself too,
because you must be tired."

"Well, let me have some with you, then. I was denied once before, if you
recollect, Fancy."

"Yes, yes, never mind! And it seems unfriendly of me now, but I don't
know what to do."

"It shall be as you say, then." Dick began to retreat with a
dissatisfied wrinkling of face, and a farewell glance at the cosy tea-
tray.

"But you don't see how it is, Dick, when you speak like that," she said,
with more earnestness than she had ever shown before. "You do know, that
even if I care very much for you, I must remember that I have a difficult
position to maintain. The vicar would not like me, as his
schoolmistress, to indulge in a tete-a-tete anywhere with anybody."

"But I am not any body!" exclaimed Dick.

"No, no, I mean with a young man;" and she added softly, "unless I were
really engaged to be married to him."

"Is that all? Then, dearest, dearest, why we'll be engaged at once, to
be sure we will, and down I sit! There it is, as easy as a glove!"

"Ah! but suppose I won't! And, goodness me, what have I done!" she
faltered, getting very red. "Positively, it seems as if I meant you to
say that!"

"Let's do it! I mean get engaged," said Dick. "Now, Fancy, will you be
my wife?"

"Do you know, Dick, it was rather unkind of you to say what you did
coming along the road," she remarked, as if she had not heard the latter
part of his speech; though an acute observer might have noticed about her
breast, as the word 'wife' fell from Dick's lips, a soft silent escape of
breaths, with very short rests between each.

"What did I say?"

"About my trying to look attractive to those men in the gig."

"You couldn't help looking so, whether you tried or no. And, Fancy, you
do care for me?"

"Yes."

"Very much?"

"Yes."

"And you'll be my own wife?"

Her heart quickened, adding to and withdrawing from her cheek varying
tones of red to match each varying thought. Dick looked expectantly at
the ripe tint of her delicate mouth, waiting for what was coming forth.

"Yes--if father will let me."

Dick drew himself close to her, compressing his lips and pouting them
out, as if he were about to whistle the softest melody known.

"O no!" said Fancy solemnly.

The modest Dick drew back a