time we met, when we were standing together on the pavement
outside Madame Bonanni's door. I thought of it, but I was afraid it
might strike you as sudden.'

'A little!'

'Yes. But a second meeting is different. You must admit that I have had
plenty of time to think it over and to know my own mind.'

'In two meetings?'

'Yes. Surely you know that in France young people are often engaged to
be married when they have never seen each other at all.'

'That is arranged for them by their parents,' objected Margaret.

'Whereas we can arrange the matter for ourselves,' Logotheti said.
'It's more dignified, and far more independent. Isn't it?'

'I suppose so--I hardly know.'

'Oh yes, it is! You cannot deny it. Besides we have no parents and we
are not children. You may think me hasty, but you cannot possibly be
offended.'

'I'm not, but I think you are quite mad--unless you are joking.'

'Mad, because I love you?' asked Logotheti, lowering his voice and
looking at her.

'But how is it possible? We hardly know each other!' Margaret was
beginning to feel uncomfortable.

'Never mind; it is possible, since it is so. Of course, I cannot expect
you to feel as I do, so soon, but I want to be before any one else.'

Margaret was silent, and her expression changed as she listened to his
low and earnest tones.

'I don't want to believe there is any one else,' he went on. 'I don't
believe it, not even if you tell me there is. But you would not tell
me, I suppose.'

She turned her eyes full upon him and spoke as low as he, but a little
unsteadily.

'There is some one else,' she said slowly.

Logotheti's lips moved, but she could not hear what he said, and almost
as soon as she had spoken he looked down at the grass. There was no
visible change in his face, and though she watched him for a few
seconds, she did not think his hold tightened on his stick or that his
brows contracted. She was somewhat relieved at this, for she was
inclined to conclude that he had not been in earnest at all, and had
idly asked her to marry him just to see whether he could surprise her
into saying anything foolish. Yet this idea did not please her either.
If there is anything a woman resents, it is that a man should pretend
to be in love with her, in order to laugh at her in his sleeve.
Margaret rose during the silence that followed. Logotheti sat still for
a moment, as if he had not noticed her, and then he got up suddenly,
and glanced at