r I
do, but"--her voice trailed off into silence.

"I hardly dared hope for that much," said Wade, gratefully. "Of course
it isn't enough, but it's something to start on."

"But liking isn't love," objected Eve, gravely.

"I know. And there was never love without liking. You don't mind if I
get what comfort I can out of that, do you?"

"N-no, I suppose not," answered Eve, slowly.

"It doesn't bind you to anything, you see. Shall we turn back now? The
breeze seems to have left us."

Presently he said: "There's something I want very much to ask you, but
I don't know whether I have any right to."

"If there's anything I can answer, I will," said Eve.

"Then I'll ask it, and you can do as you please about answering. It's
just this. Is there anyone who has--a prior claim? I mean is there any
one you must consider in this, Miss Walton. Please don't say a word
unless you want to."

Eve made no reply for a moment. Then, "I think I'm glad you did ask
that, Mr. Herrick," she said, "for it gives me a chance to explain why I
haven't answered you this morning, instead of putting it off. I am not
bound in any way by any promise of mine, and yet--there is some one
who--I hardly know how to put it, Mr. Herrick."

"Don't try if it is too hard. I think I understand."

"I don't believe you do, though. I'm not quite sure--it's only this;
that I want to feel quite free before--I answer you. I may have to keep
you waiting for awhile, perhaps a few days. May I? You won't mind?"

"I can wait for a year as long as waiting means hope," replied Wade,
gravely.

"But maybe--it doesn't."

"But it does. If there was no hope, absolutely none, you'd have told me
so ten minutes ago, wouldn't you?"

"I suppose so. I don't know. I mean"--she stopped and faced him, half
laughing, half serious. "Oh, I don't know what I mean; you've got me all
mixed up! Please, let's not talk any more about it now. Let's--let's go
home!"

"Very well," said Wade, cheerfully. "I hope I haven't walked you too
far."

XIII.

After supper that night Wade called on Doctor Crimmins. The Doctor
occupied a small house which had many years before been used as a
school. At one side the Doctor had built a little office, with an
entrance from a short brick walk leading to the street. The ground-glass
door held the inscription, "Josiah L. Crimmins, M.D. Office." Wade's
ring brought the Doctor's housekeeper, a bent, near-sighted, mumbling
old woman, who info