pale. In that moment a dreadful thought came
to me that perhaps I had made a mistake. Yet there could have been no
misconstruing what he had said to Elizabeth regarding his passion for
me.

'Stop, William!' I cried as he retreated to the door, 'why are you so
obtuse? Don't you understand how difficult you are making everything
for me--as well as for yourself! What is all this talk of sacrifice
and your unworthiness. I don't think you are unworthy. I--I--love
you--isn't it enough when I say that?'

[Illustration: 'Stop, William!' Marion cried.]

Involuntarily I stretched out my hands to him as I spoke. He has told
me since that the sight of me standing there bathed in the light of the
rose-shaded lamp, my eyes and lips unusually soft and tender (so he
says), with my arms held out to him, forms a picture that he will never
forget. He looked at me for a moment in absolute silence, and appeared
to be thinking deeply. When at last he spoke he made an astonishing
remark. 'What does it matter about me, after all?' he murmured slowly,
as if speaking to himself. 'Good God, little woman, I was just about
to act the part of a consummate cad and coward!'

He then strode up to me and continued in a serious tone: 'If you care
enough for me to take me with all my faults, I shall be proud to be
your husband.'

After which he bent and kissed me very gravely on the forehead, and
surprised me by walking out of the room. It was the most remarkable
proposal. But then, in every way, my dear William is a most remarkable
man.

CHAPTER XIX

There was something distinctly puzzling about Marion's engagement to
William. It was William who puzzled me. Instinctively I knew he was
not happy. Had I been instrumental in bringing about the match, I
should have felt disturbed, but as it happened, they pulled it off
without the slightest assistance from me. It is the best way. I am
steadily determined never to involve myself in matrimonial schemes for
any one in future. Even when The Kid gets old enough to have love
affairs, she will get my advice and sympathy, but no active
co-operation on my part.

But to return to William. Though he seemed plunged in gloom, Marion
was radiant. She gaily prepared her trousseau, and took William on
long shopping expeditions from which he returned more overcast than
ever. Sometimes I wondered if he had really got over his infatuation
for Gladys, and if he had merely proposed to Mari