he most envious, and Aunt Helen was the recipient of numerous
congratulatory innuendoes. The circumstance of his delaying the date of
his journey a week confirmed the general impression of his serious
views, and even I began to feel some pangs of conscience on the score of
allowing him to fancy that if he did come to the point I should accept
him eagerly. In contemplation of this emergency I felt that it was time
for me to go home. We both would then have six months in which to think
it over. When he should return from the West, it would be time enough
for me to come to a decision as to whether I desired to re-gild the
poetry of his English home. I was certain that if he insisted on an
immediate answer my reply would be unfavorable. But I much preferred to
defer any definite proposal; and accordingly, with all the tact at my
command, I tried to avoid giving him an opportunity of being left alone
with me for any length of time, without making it noticeable to him.
Finally, as he seemed likely to become unmanageable despite my
precautions, and as he put off again and again his day of departure, I
resolved to take refuge in flight.

When I communicated this to Aunt Helen she said I was crazy. The idea
of returning home just on the eve of realization seemed to her
preposterous; she would not hear of it. But I was equally firm, and
announced my intention of leaving on the morrow.

But before I went, I wished to have one more glimpse of the condition of
the banking-house of Francis Prime and Company; and in order to make my
scrutiny as thorough as possible I planned not to return until dark. I
was curious to get a close look at my hero, and this seemed most
feasible when he was leaving the office for the day. At that time there
would be little likelihood of any one noticing me, if I stood by the
door as he came out.

The afternoon passed without incident, save that I saw the Honorable
Ernest Ferroll go into Mr. Dale's office, where he remained some time.
He happened to meet me face to face on the street, but I justly had
acquired by this time complete faith in my disguise. He betrayed no sign
of recognition, and the flush that rose to my cheeks was a badge of
quite unnecessary alarm. The hours slipped by, and the street grew
still. The gas was lighted in the inner offices, and few but clerks,
figuring up the profits or losses of the day, were left down-town. It
was getting dark, and I was growing impatient. I sat down in th