ry tolerant of me if I upset you, because we
happen to be sitting just where I was stupid and unsympathetic once
before. You see what an impression that made on me. I actually remember
the very place."

"She probably has done things in the past," said Michael. "But she's
scarcely twenty-three yet, and I love her. Her past becomes a trifle.
Besides, I was in love with her six years ago, and I--well, six years
ago I was rather thoughtless very often. I don't want you to think that
I'm going to marry her now from any sense of duty. I love her. At the
same time when people argue that she's not the correct young Miss they
apparently expect me to marry, I'm left unmoved. Pasts belong to men as
well as to women."

Mrs. Ross nodded slowly. Kenneth came rushing up, shouting that he had
caught a frightfully rare butterfly. Michael looked at it.

"A female Orange Tip," was the verdict.

"But isn't that frightfully rare?"

Michael shook his head.

"No rarer than the males; but you don't notice them, that's all."

Kenneth retired to find some more.

"And you're sure you'll be happy with her?" Mrs. Ross asked.

"As sure as I am that I shall be happy with anybody. I ought to be
married to her by now. This delay that I've so weakly allowed isn't
going to effect much."

Michael sighed. He had meant to be in Provence this month of May.

"But the delay can't do any harm," Mrs. Ross pointed out. "At any rate,
it will enable you to feel more sure of yourself, and more sure of her,
too."

"I don't know," said Michael doubtfully. "My theory has always been that
if a thing's worth doing at all, it's worth doing at once."

"And after you're married," she asked, "what are you going to do? Just
lead a lazy life?"

"Oh, no; I suppose I shall find some occupation that will keep me out of
mischief."

"That sounds a little cynical. Ah, well, I suppose it is a
disappointment to me."

"What's a disappointment?"

"I've hoped and prayed so much lately that you would have a
vocation...."

"A priest," he interrupted quickly, "It's no good, Mrs. Ross. I have
thought of being one, but I'm always put off by the professional side of
it. And there are ways of doing what a priest does without being one."

"Of course, I can't agree with you there," she said.

"Well, apart from the sacraments, I mean. Lately I've seen something of
the underworld, and I shall think of some way of being useful down
there. Already I believe I've done a bit.