ch was grasped warmly. He said simply "I thank you," and walked over
to the group where Dora was. After awhile, taking advantage of an
opportune lull, he leaned over her and said in an undertone:

"May I have a few words of conversation with you?"

She looked up at him, evidently surprised at his tone, and asked:

"Is it important?"

"Very," he replied succinctly, and excusing herself to the company she
permitted him to lead her into the next room, where she sat beside him
on the sofa, to which he invited her with a motion. After a brief
silence, during which each thought intently, he began:

"Miss Dora, I wish you to listen to me, if you please, to the end. I
think you know that I love you." He paused just a moment, whilst she
trembled slightly, blushed, and drooped her head. He continued: "I have
never told you this before in words, I know, but you are a woman, and
must have read my heart long ago. You are all so clever at that sort of
thing. I am only a man, and I have not been able to read yours at all. I
really do not know whether you care for me or not. Once I thought that
you did, but of late--but no matter, I will not go into that. In brief,
then, I have only to say that it would make me supremely happy to know
that you would some day be my wife. In exchange, I offer you a lifelong
devotion. And now--I think--that is all I have to say. Dora--little
sweetheart--do you, could you trust yourself to me?"

He had gently taken her hand whilst he spoke, and the fact that she had
neither resisted nor withdrawn it had encouraged him to the more
affectionate terms which he used at the end of his love speech. She
hesitated awhile, then gently disengaging her hand, and looking at him
with just a suspicion of a tear in her eye, she said almost in a
whisper:

"Do you care very much?"

"Very much! I cannot tell you how much." He tried to recapture her hand,
but she eluded him. Again she asked a question:

"Money is not an object to you, in this?"

"Miss Remsen, you insult me."

"No, no!" she said quickly, "you misunderstand. I did not mean my money.
I can't explain, yet you must answer my question. Would you mind if--oh,
how shall I say it? Suppose I did something that cost you a lot of
money----"

"Oh! I see," exclaimed Mr. Randolph, brightening up. "You mean you are
extravagant. Don't let that bother you a minute. You may cost me as much
money as you can possibly spend. I will never complain."

She seemed muc