Awfully jolly old forest this is--awfully nice place Brussels,
altogether. Nicest place in the world. Never been so happy in my life
as I've been the last month. Of course, naturally, you must realise
that, when a fellow hangs on week after week, there--er, there must be
some special attraction. Not that it isn't a rattling old city, and all
that!" Mr Judge was growing a little mixed: his voice sounded flurried
and nervous, but Claire was not in the least inclined to help him. She
sat rigid as a poker, staring stolidly ahead. There was not the ghost
of a dimple in her soft pink cheeks.

"I--er, your mother tells me that she has said nothing to you, but she
is sure, all the same, that you suspect. I asked her to let me speak to
you to-day. Naturally she feels the difficulty. She is devoted to you.
You know that, of course. I have told her that I will make your
happiness my special charge. There is nothing in the world I would not
do to ensure it. You know that too, don't you, Claire?"

He stretched out his hand and touched her tentatively on the arm, but
Claire drew herself back with a prickly dignity. If he wanted to
propose at all, he must propose properly; she was not going to commit
herself in response to an insinuation.

"You are very kind. I am quite happy as I am."

"Er--yes--yes, of course, but--but things don't go on, you know, can't
go on always without a change!"

Mr Judge took off his straw hat, twirled it nervously to and fro, and
laid it down on the bench by his side. Claire, casting a quick glance,
noticed that his hair was growing noticeably thin on the temples, and
felt an additional sinking of spirits.

"Claire!" cried the man desperately, "don't let us beat about the bush.
I'm not used to this sort of thing--don't make it harder than you need!
You _have_ noticed, haven't you? You know what I want to tell you?"

Claire nodded dumbly. In the case of previous Belgian admirers affairs
had been checked before they reached the extreme stage, and she found
this, her first spoken proposal much less exciting than she had
expected. As a friend pure and simple, she had thoroughly liked Mr
Judge, and at the bottom of her heart there lived a lingering hope that
perhaps if he loved her very much, and expressed his devotion in very
eloquent words, her heart might soften in response. But so far he had
not even mentioned love! She was silent for several minutes, and when
she did speak it was