than
prolong the litigation by appeals, and that in the end he was bound to
be whipped. And I agreed, on terms that really weren't generous on my
part. He said all right; that he wanted to clear up all his old business
as quickly as possible. As he left my office I almost called him back to
throw off the last pound I had exacted; he really made me feel ashamed
of my greed. The old spell he had for me in the beginning came back
again. I believe in him; I never believed in any man so much, Sylvia!
And if he does throw his weight on the right side it will mean a lot to
every good cause men and women are contending for these days. It will
mean a lot to the state, to the whole country."

"And so much, oh, so much to him!"

Just what had passed between Bassett and Sylvia he only surmised; but it
was clear that the warmth with which he had spoken of his old employer
was grateful to Sylvia. He had not meant to dwell upon Bassett, and yet
the brightening of her eyes, her flash of feeling, the deep inner
meaning of her ejaculation, had thrilled him.

"I've said more than I meant to; I didn't come to talk of those things,
Sylvia."

"I'm glad you thought I should like to know--about him. I'm glad you
told me."

They were quiet for a little while, then he said, "Sylvia!" very
softly.

"Not that, Dan; please! I can't bear to hear that. It will break my
heart if you begin that!"

She rose and faced him, her back to the wall.

He had come to complete the declaration which the song had interrupted
on the lake, and at the first hint the chords that had been touched by
the unknown singer vibrated sharply, bringing back her old heartache. He
crossed to her quickly that he might show her how completely the memory
of that night had been obliterated; that it had vanished utterly and
ceased to be, like the ripple stirred to a moment's life by the brush of
a swallow's wing on still water. He stood beside her and took both her
hands in his strong clasp.

"We are going to be married, Sylvia; we are going to be married, here,
now, to-day!"

"No, no!"

She turned away her head, but his arms enfolded her; he bent down and
kissed her forehead, her eyes, and her lips last of all.

"Yes; here and now. Unless you say you don't care for me, that you don't
love me. If you say those things I shall go away."

She did not say them. She clung to him and looked long into his face,
and kissed him.

Harwood had chosen the hour well. Sylvia ha