,
blushing frankly.

"You have no occasion to say that," Sandie said, laughing. "She has got
what she wanted. There was a terrible danger that she might have come
between _me_ and happiness. But for her--I am not at all sure that she
would have been happy with me."

"I remember," said Dolly, "she told me one time, she knew she would not
'_have her head_' so much, if she were once married to you."

"She would not have approved my old house, either," said Sandie
contentedly, letting Dolly go that he might put up the fire, which had
tumbled down, after the fashion of wood fires.

"She might have liked it," Dolly answered.

"You do?"

"Oh, very much! Aunt Hal and I think it is charming. And it is full of
lovely things."

"Wants a new carpet, I should say," said Sandie, eyeing the threadbare
one under his feet, which Mrs. Eberstein had objected to.

"There!" said Dolly. "Aunt Hal said you would never know what was on
the floor. I told her she was mistaken."

"What gave her such a poor opinion of my eyesight?"

"Oh, nothing, it was not of your _eyesight_, I don't know, unless she
thinks that is the way with men in general. Uncle Ned had brought me a
present of a beautiful new carpet for this room, and Aunt Harry wanted
me to have it put down; but I wouldn't until I knew whether you would
like it."

"Whether I would like it!" Sandie repeated, rather opening his eyes. "I
should think the question was, whether _you_ would like it. I like new
carpets."

"I did not know but you might have some affection for this old one,"
said Dolly. "I did not want to change the look of the room before you
came, so that it would not seem like home. Aunt Harry said I would
spoil you."

"What did you answer to that?"

"I said it was more likely you would spoil me," said Dolly, dimpling up
and flushing.

"Do you think I will?" said Sandie, taking her hand and drawing her up
to him.

Dolly hesitated, flushed and dimpled more, and answered, however, a
frank "No."

"Why?" was the quick next question.

"You ask too many things," said Dolly. "Don't you want something to
eat?"

"No, not at all!--Yes."

"I thought so," said Dolly, laughing. "Come, then."

She put her hand in his and led him across the broad hall to the
dining-room. And during the next hour Sandie might have recurred with
reason to his late remark; that Christina had been near coming between
him and happiness. The careless luxury of her way of entertaining him