rley--" she began.

"I'm in a dreadful state of mind when I think of you alone at Belle
Plain--I wish you could love me, Betty!"

"I do love you. There is no one I care half so much for, Charley."

Norton shook his bandaged head and heaved a prodigious sigh.

"That's merely saying you don't love any one." He dropped back rather
wearily on his pillow. "Does Tom know about this?" he added.

"Yes."

"Was he able to show a proper amount of surprise?"

"He appeared really shocked, Charley."

"Well, then, it wasn't Tom. He never shows much emotion, but what he
does show he usually feels, I've noticed. I had rather hoped it was Tom,
I'd be glad to think that he was responsible; for if it wasn't Tom, who
was it?--who is it to whom it makes any difference how often I see you?"

"I don't know, Charley;" but her voice was uncertain.

"Look here, Betty; for the hundredth time, won't you marry me? I've
loved you ever since I was old enough to know what love meant. You've
been awfully sweet and patient with me, and I've tried to respect your
wishes and not speak of this except when it seemed necessary--" he
paused, and they both laughed a little, but he looked weak and helpless
with his bloodless face showing between the gaps in the bandages that
swathed him. Perhaps it was this sense of his helplessness that roused a
feeling in Betty that was new to her.

"You see, Charley, I fear--I am sure I don't love you the way I
should--to marry you--"

Charley, greatly excited, groaned and sat up, and groaned again.

"Oh, please, Charley-lie still!" she entreated.

"That's all right--and you needn't pull your hand away--you like me
better than any one else, you've told me so; well, don't you see that's
the beginning of really loving me?"

"But you wouldn't want to marry me at once?"

"Yes I would--right away--as soon as I am able to stir around!" said
Charley promptly. "Don't you see the immediate necessity there is of my
being in a position to care for you, Betty? I wasn't served this trick
for nothing."

"You must try not to worry, Charley."

"But I shall--I expect it's going to retard my recovery," said the young
man gloomily. "I couldn't be worse off! Here I am flat on my back;
I can't come to you or keep watch over you. Let me have some hope,
dear--let me believe that you will marry me!"

She looked at him pityingly, and with a certain latent tenderness in her
mood.

"Do you really care so much for me, Charley?"