.

"I say," he complained, "you needn't--"

"Get out!" Mr. Pierce said angrily, and the door slammed. The second's
interruption gave him time, I think, to see how far he'd gone, and his
voice, when he spoke again, was not so hopeful.

"I'm not pleading my cause," he said humbly, "I know I haven't any
cause. I have nothing to offer you."

"You said this afternoon," Miss Patty said softly, "that you could offer
me the--the kind of love that a woman could be proud of."

She finished off with a sort of gasp, as if she was shocked at herself.
I was so excited that my heart beat a tatoo against my ribs, and without
my being conscious of it, as you may say, the pantry door opened about
an inch and I found myself with an eye to the crack.

They were standing facing each other, he all flushed and eager and my
dear Miss Patty pale and trembly. But she wasn't shy. She was looking
straight into his eyes and her blessed lips were quivering.

"How can you care?" she asked, when he only stood and looked at her.
"I've been such a--such a selfish beast!"

"Hush!" He leaned toward her, and I held my breath. "You are everything
that is best in the world, and I--what can I offer you? I have nothing,
not even this sanatorium! No money, no title--"

"Oh, THAT!" she interrupted, and stood waiting. "Well, you--you could at
least offer yourself!"

"Patty!"

She went right over to him and put her hands on his shoulders.

"And if you won't," she said, "I'll offer myself instead!"

His arms went around her like a flash at that, and he kissed her. I've
seen a good many kisses in my day, the spring-house walk being a sort
of lover's lane, but they were generally of the quick-get-away variety.
This was different. He just gathered her up to him and held her close,
and if she was one-tenth as much thrilled as I was in the pantry she'd
be ready to die kissing.

Then, without releasing her, he raised his head, with such a look of
victory in his face that I still see it sometimes in my sleep, and his
eye caught mine through the crack.

But if I'd looked to see him drop her I was mistaken. He drew her up and
kissed her again, but this time on the forehead. And when he'd let her
go and she had dropped into a chair and hid her shining face against the
back, as if she was ashamed, which she might well be, he stood laughing
over her bent head at me.

"Come out, Minnie!" he called. "Come out and hear the good news!"

"Hear!" I said, "I've s