et her to-morrow morning.
There is nothing to prevent us being as good friends as ever," I
declared, but he shook his head in a mysterious fashion.

"I think there is! There's a third person on the scene now who will
make it difficult--for me, at least--to go back to the same footing.
There's Una!" he said, and looked at me with his bright grey eyes, up
and down, down and up again, in a grave, quiet sort of way which I had
never seen before. It made me feel nice, but rather uncomfortable, and
I was glad when he brightened up again, and said gaily--

"I owe a hundred apologies for my lack of ceremony to this fine, this
very fine, this super-fine young lady! I'll turn over a new leaf for
the future, and treat you with becoming ceremony. I can quite imagine
the disgust of the budding _debutante_ at my cavalier ways. Confess now
that your dignity was sorely wounded?"

His eyes were twinkling again. They are grey, and his face is so brown
that they look lighter than the skin. I never saw anyone's eyes look
like that before, but it is awfully nice. I thought there was a
splendid opening, so I said--

"No; I was never vexed but once. I like being treated sensibly, but
that morning when you left me, and went out of your way with Rachel
Greaves--I was sorry then that you did not know that I was grown up."

"You thought if I had I would have walked with you instead? Why?"

I blushed a little, and it seemed to me that he blushed too--his cheeks
certainly looked hot. It was a horrid question to answer, and he must
have known for himself what I meant. I really and truly don't think
many men would go out of their way for Rachel Greaves. I answered by
another question--it was the easiest way.

"I didn't know then that you were old friends. I suppose you get to
like her better when you know her well?"

"Naturally. That is always the case with the best people."

"And she is--"

"The best woman I have ever met, and the most selfless!" he said
solemnly. "Have you spoken to Rachel about me? What has she told you?
I should like you to know the truth, though it is not yet general
property. You can keep it to yourself for awhile?"

I nodded. I didn't want to speak, for I felt a big, hard lump swelling
in my throat, and my heart thumped. I knew quite well what he was going
to say, and I hated it beforehand.

"We are engaged to be married. It will probably be an engagement for
years, for Rachel feels her prese