ut you, but in reality to tell me he had been promoted. I think he
ought to have been, after I spoke myself to Mr. Archibald about it.
But what touched me was, the poor fellow asked if I wouldn't see about
getting some flowers for the memorial at the engineer's lodge
to-night--and he didn't want his wife to know anything about it,
because she would scold him for spending his money--see what you are
coming to! So I suggested he should let me provide his flowers and
ours together, and when I tried to find out what he wanted, he asked if
a throttle made of flowers would be all right."

"Your heart would not let you say no?"

"I told him it would be lovely, and to leave it all to me."

She brought forward the box she was opening. "See how they have laid
this throttle-bar of violets across these Galax leaves--and latched it
with a rose. Here, Solomon," she exiled the boy from an adjoining
room, "take this very carefully. No. There isn't any card. Oh," she
exclaimed, as he left, and she clasped her lifted hands, "I am glad, I
am glad we are leaving these mountains. Do you know papa is to be here
to-morrow? And that your speech must be ready? He isn't going to give
his consent without being asked."

"I suppose not," said Glover, dejectedly.

"What are you going to say?"

"I shall say that I consider him worthy of my confidence and esteem."

"I think you would make more headway, dearest, if you should tell him
you considered yourself worthy of _his_ confidence and esteem."

"But, hang it, I don't."

"Well, couldn't you, for once, fib a little? Oh, Ab; I'll tell you
what I wish you _could_ do."

"Pray what?"

"Talk a little business to him. I feel sure, if you could only talk
business awhile, papa would be _all_ right."

"Business! If it's only a question of talking business, the thing's as
good as done. I can't talk anything but business."

"Can't you, indeed! I like that. Pray what did you talk to me on the
platform of my father's own car?"

"Business."

"You talked the silliest stuff I ever listened to----"

"Not reflecting on anyone present, of course."

"And, Ab----"

"Yes."

"If you could take him aback somehow--nothing would give him such an
idea of you. I think that was what--well, I was so _completely_
overcome by your audacity----"

"You seemed so," commented Glover, rather grimly. "Very well, if you
want him taken aback, I will take him aback, even if I have to resort
to fo