r just what I said. But we understood each other
perfectly at last.

Of course Sara had to do her best to spoil things. Just as Walter had
taken my hand in his and bent forward with his splendid earnest eyes
just burning into mine, and my heart was beating so furiously, Sara
came to the front door and called out, "Beatrice! Beatrice! Have you
your rubbers on? And don't you think it is too damp out there for you
in that heavy dew? Better come into the house, both of you. Walter
has a cold now."

"Oh, we'll be in soon, Sara," I said impatiently. But we didn't go in
for an hour, and when we did Sara was cross, and after Walter had gone
she told me I was a very silly girl to be so reckless of my health and
risk getting pneumonia loitering out in the dew with a sentimental
boy.

I had had some vague thoughts of telling Sara all about my new
happiness, for it was so great I wanted to talk it over with somebody,
but I couldn't after that. Oh, I wish I had a mother! She could
understand. But Sara cannot.

Walter and I have decided to keep our engagement a secret for a
month--just our own beautiful secret unshared by anyone. Then before
he goes back to college he is going to tell Sara and ask her consent.
I don't think Sara will refuse it exactly. She really likes Walter
very well. But I know she will be horrid and I just dread it. She will
say I am too young and that a boy like Walter has no business to get
engaged until he is through college and that we haven't known each
other long enough to know anything about each other and that we are
only a pair of romantic children. And after she has said all this and
given a disapproving consent she will begin to train me up in the way
a good housekeeper should go, and talk to me about table linen and the
best way to manage a range and how to tell if a chicken is really a
chicken or only an old hen. Oh, I know Sara! She will set the teeth of
my spirit on edge a dozen times a day and rub all the bloom off my
dear, only, little romance with her horrible practicalities. I know
one must learn about those things of course and I do want to make
Walter's home the best and dearest and most comfortable spot on earth
for him and be the very best little wife and housekeeper I can be when
the time comes. But I want to dream my dreams first and Sara will wake
me up so early to realities.

This is why we determined to keep one month sacred to ourselves.
Walter will graduate next spring--he is