e been engaged you've never--Well, you've never--never kissed
me of your own accord. It's foolish to talk that way now, isn't it?
But, by George! That would be--would be such a wonderful thing for me.
I know," he hastened to add, "I know, Laura, you aren't demonstrative.
I ought not to expect, maybe, that you-- Well, maybe it isn't much. But
I was thinking a while ago that there wouldn't be a sweeter thing
imaginable for me than if my own girl would come up to me some
time--when I wasn't thinking--and of her own accord put her two arms
around me and kiss me. And--well, I was thinking about it, and--" He
hesitated again, then finished abruptly with, "And it occurred to me
that you never had."

Laura made no answer, but smiled rather indefinitely, as she continued
to search the pages of the book, her head to one side.

Jadwin continued:

"We'll call it a bargain. Some day--before very long, mind you--you are
going to kiss me--that way, understand, of your own accord, when I'm
not thinking of it; and I'll get that conservatory in for you. I'll
manage it somehow. I'll start those fellows at it to-morrow--twenty of
'em if it's necessary. How about it? Is it a bargain? Some day before
long. What do you say?"

Laura hesitated, singularly embarrassed, unable to find the right words.

"Is it a bargain?" persisted Jadwin.

"Oh, if you put it that way," she murmured, "I suppose so--yes."

"You won't forget, because I shan't speak about it again. Promise you
won't forget."

"No, I won't forget. Why not call her the 'Thetis'?"

"I was going to suggest the 'Dart,' or the 'Swallow,' or the 'Arrow.'
Something like that--to give a notion of speed."

"No. I like the 'Thetis' best."

"That settles it then. She's your steam yacht, Laura."

Later on, when Jadwin was preparing to depart, they stood for a moment
in the hallway, while he drew on his gloves and took a fresh cigar from
his case.

"I'll call for you here at about ten," he said. "Will that do?"

He spoke of the following morning. He had planned to take Page, Mrs.
Wessels, and Laura on a day's excursion to Geneva Lake to see how work
was progressing on the country house. Jadwin had set his mind upon
passing the summer months after the marriage at the lake, and as the
early date of the ceremony made it impossible to erect a new building,
he had bought, and was now causing to be remodelled, an old but very
well constructed house just outside of the town and once occu