s mute. Of course I know that I am to blame on
account of my former indifference--even antagonism--to him. He is
afraid of rebuff. I have extended encouragement to him by all the
slight means in my power, and Netta has openly handed him my photo,
observing that she knew he would like to have it. I have even gone to
the length of asking Henry to convey to him that he has nothing to
fear; but Henry resolutely refuses to touch on the subject with him. I
cannot understand why, when the happiness of two people is at stake.

_Sunday_: I don't know what impelled me to do it. Perhaps it was the
remembrance of an article of Netta's I once read entitled, 'Should
Women Propose?' where she cited the historic instance of Queen
Victoria, in whose case, on account of her rank, it was a necessity. I
had begun to realize that William was not likely to bring his courage
to the sticking point without a great deal of encouragement.
Distasteful as the idea was to me, I did not intend to shrink from what
I felt was to be my duty. If he, though languishing for love, was too
faint-hearted to propose, I saw that it would be necessary for me to
undertake that task.

Last evening, therefore, when he called I received him in the
drawing-room and explained that Netta and Henry had gone out to the
theatre. He at once made for the door, saying in that case he would
not stop, but I intercepted him. Closing the door, I said gently, 'I
am going to ask you to keep me company for an hour--if,' I added
archly, 'it won't bore you.'

In a confused sort of way he assured me it would not, and he sat down
and dropped into the silence that is becoming habitual when we are left
alone together.

I knitted and he pulled hard at his cigarette. At last I said: 'Why
don't you smoke a pipe, Mr. Rawlings? I know you prefer it.'

'No, no,' he said vehemently, 'I would much rather have a cigarette.
It's a cleaner habit than pipe-smoking, isn't it?'

I smiled faintly and mentally decided that when we were married I would
not allow him to deprive himself of one of his greatest joys for my
sake.

There was another long silence and then, feeling extremely nervous, I
murmured haltingly, 'I--I--wonder if you missed me when I was away
nursing my great sick aunt--I--I--mean my sick great-aunt.
Did--did--the time seem long?'

'I--I'm not quite sure,' he stammered, obviously as ill at ease as
myself. 'You see, to be perfectly frank, Miss Warrington, I was at