nts. I was attractive, alluring to him--more so than ever. I
tried to be! Oh, I tried to be diplomatic, wise, to bide my time; by
quiet and determined endurance to withstand the siege of Mrs. Sewall's
disapproval; to hold her son's affection; and to marry him some day,
with her sanction, too, just exactly as I had planned. I tried and I
failed.

The very fact that I could hold Breck's affection hastened my
defeat--that and my lacerated pride.

I met him one day when I was out walking with Dandy, not far from
the very spot where once he had begged me to ride with him in his
automobile. Today in the seat beside him, which had been of late so
often mine, sat Gale Oliphant, her head almost upon his shoulder,
and Breck leaning toward her laughing as they sped by.

He saw me, I was sure he saw me, but he did not raise his hat. His
signal of recognition had been without Miss Oliphant's knowledge. After
they had passed he had stretched out his arm as a sign to turn to the
left, and had waved his hand without looking around. My face grew
scarlet. What had I become? Why, I might have been a picked-up
acquaintance, somebody to be ashamed of! Ruth Chenery Vars--where
had disappeared that once proud and self-respecting girl?

Insignificant as the event really was, it stood as a symbol of the
whole miserable situation to me. It was just enough to startle me into
contempt for myself. That night Breck came stealing down to me along the
dark roads in his quiet car about eleven-thirty. I knew he had been to
the Jackson dinner and was surprised to find he had changed into street
clothes. He was more eager than ever in his greeting.

"Come down into the sunken garden," he pleaded. "I've got something to
say to you."

It was light in the garden. There was a full September moon. I stood
beside the bird-bath and put a forefinger in it. I could hear Breck
breathing hard beside me. I was sure he had broken his pledge and had
been drinking.

"Well?" I said at last, calmly, looking up.

He answered me silently, vehemently.

"Don't, please, _here_. It's so fearfully light. Don't, Breck," I said.

"I've got the car," he whispered. "It will take us two hours. I've got
it all planned. It's a peach of a night. You've got to come. I'm not for
waiting any longer. You've got to marry me tonight, you little fish!
I'll wake you up. Do you hear me? Tonight in two hours. I'm not going to
hang around any longer. You've got to come!"

I managed t