of fulfillment hasn't come yet."

"Yes, it has," boldly asserted her lover. "Winter is past, and summer
is here--glorious, satisfying harvest time--and--and--it is thus I
garner in my wealth," he murmured with tender rapture, gathering her
still closer, and kissing the sweet eyes and throat and mouth. "No more
half-way measures between us now! No more tormenting reserve! You trust
me, sweetheart? You give yourself to me, do you not?"

"I don't seem to have much liberty of choice," she replied with a
resumption of her old sauciness, as she again freed herself from his
embrace. "As you have already stolen my heart, I may as well trust you
with the rest--and I do, I do," she added solemnly. "My welfare, my
happiness, my life itself, I commit to your keeping," placing both
hands in his. "I give all unreservedly. You are worthy the trust."

"No," she said presently, in answer to the inevitable question as to
when she had first begun to love him; "I shan't tell you that. You're
too conceited and masterful as it is."

"But you have promised to tell me everything," he said teasingly.

"No, some things are better left unsaid, and if I were to tell you
that, I'd never be able to get the upper hand with you again."

"But you know you always did obey me," he answered, smiling
reminiscently, "though it was often with a sweet rebellious look in
your eyes; and besides, a wife is bound to obey her husband."

"I don't know about that, sir. If that is the rule, I mean to be the
exception that proves it; for I fully intend that you shall be the
submissive one in our future relationship."

"In that case, fair lady mine, the sooner you marry me, the better; for
even with so competent a ruler as yourself, it will take long and close
application on my part to learn the role of submissive husband. You
see, my position of schoolmaster has weakened my natural talent for
meekness and submission, so that at present these qualities are far
from being in perfect condition."

"You needn't tell me that," rejoined Betsy, with a demure smile and
nodding her head sagely. "Cupid hasn't so blindfolded me but that I can
still see a wee bit out of the corner of my eye--well enough, at least,
to perceive that my lover has several imperfections in addition to a
lack of meekness."

"That, my dear, isn't the fault of Cupid's bandages, but it is due to
your always having held me at a distance," he answered placidly,
drawing her nearer to him. "Seen at