y month was May"--sang Unity.

"With Phyllis and with Chloe made I holiday!"

"It is dark night," said Jacqueline. "Shall we not go in?"

Cary put out an appealing hand. "Don't rise! May we not stay like this a
little longer?--Miss Churchill, there is something that I ardently wish
to say to you."

"Yes, Mr. Cary?"

"It is too soon to speak, I know,--it must seem too soon to you. But
to-day I said, 'The spring is flying--I'll put my fortune to the touch!'
I think that you must guess the thing I wish to say--"

"Yes, I know. I wish that you would leave it unsaid."

"I love you. On the day, three months ago, when I saw you after my
return and found the lovely child I remembered changed into the
loveliest of all women, I loved you. If then, what now, when I have seen
you, day by day?--I love you, and I shall never cease to love you."

"Oh, with all my heart I wish that you did not!"

"I ask you to be my wife. I beg you to let me prove throughout my life
the depth of my love, of my solicitude for your happiness--"

"Ah, happiness!" cried Jacqueline sharply. "I do not see it in my life.
The best that you can do is to forget me quite."

"I will remember you when I draw my dying breath. And if we remember
after death, I will remember you then. With all my strength I love
you."

"I am sorry--I am sorry!" she cried. "Oh, I hoped 'twas but a fancy, and
that you would not speak! I do not love you--"

"Let me wait," said Cary, after a pause. "I said that I was speaking too
soon. Let me wait--let me prove to you. Your heart may turn."

She shook her head. "It will not change."

"Is there," asked Cary, in a low voice, "is there another before me?"

She looked at him strangely. "You have no right to question me. I do not
think that I shall ever marry. For you, you will live long and be happy.
You deserve happiness. If I have wounded you, may it soon heal! Forget
this night, and me."

"Forget!" said Cary. "I am not so lightly made! But neither will I
despair. I will wait. If there is no man before me, I will win you yet!
There is little reason, God knows, why you should care for me, but I
shall strive to make that reason greater!"

"There is reason," answered Jacqueline. "I think highly, highly of you!
You would make a woman happy;--all her life she would travel a sunny
road! I prize your friendship--I am loth to lose it. But as for
me,"--she locked her hands against her breast,--"there is that within me
that