.

"You appear to find it ridiculous. It seems to amuse you very much. I
may say that to us it is a serious matter!"

"Oh no! You don't understand--you _don't_ understand!" gasped Claire
feebly. "I am not laughing at you. I'm laughing at myself. Oh, Mr
Judge, you'll never guess, it's too screamingly funny for words. I
thought all this time, from the very beginning I thought, it was _me_!"

"You thought it was--you thought I wanted--that I was talking of--that I
meant to propose to--"

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Me! Me! Me! Of course I did. I've been thinking
it for weeks. Everyone thought so. They've teased me to death. You
were attentive to me, you know you were. You were always giving me
things ..."

"Well, of course!" Poor Mr Judge defended himself with honest
indignation. "What else could I do? I could not give them to _her_!
And I wanted--naturally I wanted, to get you on my side. You were the
difficulty. I knew that if she had only herself to consider I could win
her round, but if you ranged yourself against me, it would be a hard
fight. Naturally I tried to ingratiate myself. It appears that I have
rather overdone the part, but I can't flatter myself," his eyes twinkled
mischievously, "that I've been too successful! You don't appear exactly
overcome with disappointment!"

They laughed together, but only for a moment. Then he was serious
again, appealing to her in earnest tones.

"You won't range yourself against me, Claire? You won't dissuade her.--
I love her very dearly, and I know I can make her happy. You won't make
it hard for us?"

"Indeed, I won't! Why should I?" Claire cried heartily. "I'm only too
thankful. Mother needs someone to look after her, and I'd sooner you
did it than anyone else. I like you awfully--always did, until I began
to be afraid--I didn't want to marry you myself, but if mother does, I
think it's a splendid thing."

"Thank you, dear, thank you a thousand times. That's a _great_ relief."
Robert Judge stretched himself with a deep breath of satisfaction.
Then he grew confidential, reviewing the past with true lover-like
enjoyment.

"I fell in love with her that first afternoon at the tennis club.
Thought Bridges introduced her as Miss Gifford, put her down at twenty-
five, and hoped she wouldn't think me a hopeless old fogey. Never had
such a surprise in my life as when she introduced you. Thought for a
time I should have to give it up. Then she as