ome in. I rose from my chair to bow to her when she entered, she
never shakes hands. I was awfully pained to see the change in her. Her
poor little white face was thin and woebegone and even her lips pale,
and her air was not so proud as usual.

"Won't you sit down," I said with whatever of homage I could put into my
voice.

She was so humbled and miserable, that I knew she would even have taken
off her glasses if I had asked her to, but of course I would not do
that.

She seemed to find it hard to begin. I felt troubled for her and
started.

"I am awfully glad that you have come back."

She locked her hands together, in the shabby, black suede gloves.

"I have come to tell you that if you will give me twenty-five thousand
francs this afternoon, I will accept your offer, and will marry you."

I held out my hand in my infinite joy, but I tried to control all other
exhibition of emotion.

"That is awfully good of you--I can't say how I thank you," I said in a
voice which sounded quite stern. "Of course I will give you anything in
the world you want." And again I reached for my cheque-book and wrote a
cheque for fifty thousand and handed it to her.

She looked at it, and went crimson.

"I do not want all that, twenty-five thousand is enough. That is the
price of the bargain."

I would not let this hurt me.

"Since you have consented to marry me, I have the right to give you what
I please--you may need more than you have suggested, and I want
everything to be smooth and as you would wish."

She trembled all over.

"I--I cannot argue now, I must go at once; but I will think over what I
must say about it."

"If you are going to be my wife, you must know that all that is mine
will be yours; so how can a few thousand francs more or less now make
any difference, though if you have any feeling concerning it, you can
pay me back out of your first month's dress allowance!" and I tried to
smile.

She started to her feet.

"When shall I see you again?" I pleaded.

"In two days."

"When will you marry me?"

"Whenever you arrange."

"Must you go now?"

"Yes--I must--I am grateful for your generosity, I will fulfill my side
of the bargain."

"And I mine."

I tried to rise, and she handed me my crutch, and then went towards the
door, there she turned.

"I will come on Friday at ten o'clock as usual, Good-bye," and she bowed
and left me.

What a remarkable way to become an engaged man!! But only joy f