y."

But he never quite understood that and she didn't expect him to.
However, if she thought she had won, she was mistaken. The persistency
in matters of love that is the heritage of all men made him say
carelessly a half hour later:

"Oh, well--I suppose waiting a year is the best, the wise thing to do.
But why must I be the only one to obey the law? Nobody else is waiting
a year. All the other men are marrying their sweethearts in June.
There's David and Jocelyn, Max Longman and Clara, Steve and Bonnie,
Dolly Beatty and Charlie Peters. And only last week Grandma Wentworth
got a letter from out West saying some chap is coming from the very
wilds to marry Carrie. He's hired the reception hall of the Community
House so that Carrie may have a proper wedding in case her folks refuse
to give their blessing. So I'm going to marry all those chaps and then
calmly go on just being engaged myself."

All of a sudden Nan saw why Seth Curtis gave in and joined the church,
why Hank Lolly forgot his fears and came to the services, why the
poolroom man gave up his business and was now a respected automobile
man and mechanic; why the former saloon keeper was the happy owner of a
stock farm; why Frank Burton no longer bragged about being an atheist
but went to church with Jennie; why Mrs. Rosenwinkle no longer argued
about the flatness of the earth.

He was always doing this to every one, this boy from India; always
making people see how ridiculous and petty were the man-made
conventions and human notions and stubbornness when looked at in the
light of common sense and sincerity.

"Oh, well," Nan gave in with a laugh that was half a sob, "I may as
well be a June bride with the rest. And now, John Roger Churchill
Knight, take me down to see my town. I want to see all the new
gardens, the new babies, the new spring hats and dress patterns.

"I want to see Ella Higgins' tulips and forget-me-nots and attend Uncle
Tony's open-air meeting. I want to have an ice-cream soda at Martin's
and wave my hand at John Gans while he's shaving a customer. I want to
see all the store windows, especially Joe Baldwin's. I want to shake
hands with Billy Evans and Hank Lolly and hug little Billy.

"I want to go to the post-office for my mail when everybody else is
getting theirs. I want to know if the bank is still there and if the
bluebirds and flickers are as thick as ever in Park Lane. I want to
hear Green Valley women calling to each