. You don't understand; but I don't want you to. But, Nell, as we
are going to be married, we might as well be married now as months
hence."

Her head sank lower; the _Annie Laurie_ lost the wind, and fell off and
rolled on the ground swell.

"Do you--want to marry me--so soon?" she murmured.

"So soon!" he echoed. "Why, it is months--weeks--since we were engaged."

"But--but--aren't you happy--content?" she asked. "I--I am so happy. I
know that you love me; that is happiness enough."

He drew her to him and kissed her with a reverence which he thought no
woman would have received from him.

"No; it is not enough, dearest," he said. "You don't understand. I'll
put the banns up to-morrow--no; I'll get a special license. I want you
for my own, all my own, Nell."

When they sailed into the slip by the jetty, Dick was waiting for them.

"Hal-lo!" he yelled. "I've been waiting for you for the last two hours.
I've news for you."

"News?" said Drake.

Nell was coiling the sheet in a methodical fashion, and thinking of
Drake's words.

"Yes. The Maltbys are going to give a dance, and you and I and Nell are
asked."

"And who are the Maltbys?" he inquired, with a lack of interest which
nettled Dick.

"The Maltbys are our salt of the earth," he replied; "they are our
especial 'local gentry'; and, let me tell you, an invitation from them
is not to be sneezed at."

"I didn't sneeze," said Drake, clasping Nell's hand as he helped her out
of the boat.

"It's for the fifth," said Dick; "and it's sure to be a good dance;
better still, it's sure to be a good supper. Now, look here, don't you
two spoons say you 'don't care about it,' for, I've set my mind upon
going."

Drake laughed easily.

"Would you like to go?" he asked of Nell.

"Would you?" she returned.

Loverlike, he thought of a dance with her. She was, her girlish
innocence, so sparing of her caresses, that the prospect of holding her
in his arms during a waltz set him aching with longing.

"Yes," he said, "if you like."

"All right," she said. "Yes, I should think we might go, Dick."

"I should think so!" he shouted. "Fancy chucking away the chance of a
dance!"

"How did they come to ask us?" Nell inquired. "We don't know them very
well," she explained to Drake. "The Maltbys are quite grand folk
compared with us; and, though Lady Maltby calls once in a blue moon, and
sends us cards for a garden party now and again, this is the first time
we have