e! What was the question? I won't listen to anything till
you've told me.'

'It was a silly question. I don't really want to ask you. I forget what
it was.'

Totty was strangely unlike herself, hesitating, diffident, ashamed. He
insisted; she refused to speak. He got vexed, turned mute.

'Well then, I _will_ ask you,' Totty exclaimed of a sudden. 'And mind,
I shall know if you're honest or not. Suppose both Thyrza Trent and me
was in this room, and you had your choice between us, which would it
be?'

Ackroyd flushed, then looked seriously offended.

'Won't you answer?'

'I don't like to joke about such things.'

'And I don't either, that's the truth; that's why such a thing came
into my head. You needn't answer; I'd rather you didn't. Of course I
know what you'd have to say.'

'You are talking nonsense. There couldn't be a choice, because I've
_made_ my choice. Will you marry me or not?'

'Yes, I will. Any day you like.'

'Yes, and afterwards keep asking me questions like this.'

'It wasn't right, I know. But you're wrong when you say I should ever
speak of it again.'

'I don't know what to think, Totty. It looks very much as if _you_
didn't want to have _me_. Now look, here's a question for _you_.
Suppose I'd never asked you before to-night, and now I came and asked
you to marry me, what would you say? Now, honest.'

'You've not answered me.'

'I have.'

He spoke it significantly, and she understood him.

'Now, what _would_ you say, Totty?'

'I should say, that I couldn't say neither yes nor no for certain, and
I wanted to wait.'

'You're an honest girl. Shake hands, and let us wait another six
months.'

Totty reddened, and inwardly reproached herself with complete meanness.
But she was glad--and Luke Ackroyd was glad.

CHAPTER XXXIII

THE HEART AND ITS SECRET

Thyrza was not to be a boarder with the Emersons, nor did Mrs. Ormonde
request them to make a friend of her. Nothing more was proposed than
that she should rent from them their spare room, which was tolerably
spacious and could be used both as bed-chamber and parlour. Her meals
were to be supplied to her by the landlady of the house. The only
stipulation with the Emersons was that she should receive her
singing-lessons in their sitting-room, where there was a piano.

Thyrza herself specially desired of Mrs. Ormonde that she might live as
much alone as possible. She declared that it would be no hardship
whatever to her to