u loved or
hated!"

"But I don't hate. I like you ever so much. I want to think it over. One
must consider----"

"A week then. And after that we can be engaged for ever so long. It
shall all be as you like then."

It proved very difficult to settle the point. He was so urgent, she so
hesitating. The big old English clock in the hall struck ten, and
gentlemen expected to keep good hours.

"Do not come in a whole week. No, do not kiss me again," and she held
her dainty head up haughtily. "It was all very wrong. I should not have
allowed such a thing until I was quite sure. Allin, perhaps I am a
coquette."

"You may be anything if you are only mine."

"And then of course I should be steady and devoted, and--like Polly."

That was a maddening picture to hold out. But she would be a hundred
times sweeter than Polly, than anyone's sister could possibly be, he
thought as he went his way.

* * * * *

Was there a ghost in the room? Primrose shivered as she looked at her
bed with the white curtains and her dressing table that all the girls
were trimming up now with ruffling and bows. She was so glad to hear the
chaise stop and to have the warm, ample presence in the room, to hear
the cheerful voice.

"Poor old Mr. Jeffries fails fast," said madam. "It would be a sin to
win his money now. And I grew so dull and sleepy that I wished myself
home twenty times. Suppose one had an old husband like that? And years
ago, about fifteen, I think, Mr. Ralph Jeffries asked for my hand."

She laughed softly and began to take out her pins and stick them
carefully in the cushion. Pins were very precious then.

There were two rainy days, an autumnal storm. Then Sunday. Allin Wharton
looked at Primrose across the church and spoke coming out. There were
laces to mend and gowns to consider and poor to visit. And all the time
Primrose Henry was thinking if--if a man who was nobleness and goodness
and tenderness itself, loved her, and would never love anyone else, what
ought she to do?

Thursday noon Phil came in to dinner. Polly was not very well and he was
going out at three. Wouldn't Primrose come with him?

Primrose colored and looked oddly embarrassed, and said, in a confused
sort of way, there was something she must do this afternoon, but
to-morrow she would come out and spend two or three days with Polly. She
sent her best and dearest love.

Yes, she must know once for all. If duty was demanded