they
were close to the others. In spite of his impatience and his many
faults, he was generous enough to understand her without another word.
She had not repelled him; she had not silenced him entirely; she had
not listened to him and then answered him with scorn. On the contrary,
her manner had been soft and subdued, more winning than he had ever
known it; and yet she had refused to hearken to his suit. "Not
now,--not yet," she had said, and he could see that her lip quivered,
and her beautiful eyes were full of tears. It was too soon, that was
what she meant; too soon for him to speak and for her to listen. She
owed it to her own dignity that his affection should be put to greater
proof than that. She must not be so lightly won; she must not stoop
down from her maidenly pride and nobleness at his first words because
she had grown to care for him. "It must not be so, however much the
denial may cost me," Phillis had said to herself. But as she joined
the others, and came to Nan's side, she could scarcely steady her
voice or raise her eyes, for fear their shy consciousness would betray
her. "At last," and "at last!"--that was the refrain that was ringing
so joyously in her heart. Well, and one day he should tell her what he
would.

She thought she had silenced him entirely, but she forgot that men
were masterful and had cunning ways of their own to compass their
ends. Archie had recovered his courage; he had still a word to say,
and he meant to say it; and just before the close of the walk, as they
were in the darkest part of the Braidwood Road, just where the trees
meet overhead, before one reaches the vicarage, Phillis found him
again at her side.

"When may I hope that you will listen?" he said. "I am not a patient
man: you must remember that, and not make it too hard for me. I should
wish to know how soon I may come."

"Spring is very beautiful in the country," she answered, almost too
confused by this unexpected address to know what she was saying. "I
think May is my favorite month, when the hawthorns are out."

"Thank you, I will come in May." And then Phillis woke up to the
perception of what she had said. "Oh, no, I did not meant that," she
began, incoherently; but this time it was Archie who moved away, with
a smile on his face and a certain vivid brightness in his eyes, and
her stammered words were lost in the darkness.

The whole week was much occupied by paying farewell visits. On the
last afternoon P