im that I had some very important
business of my own to attend to before I could go calling, he was kind
enough to let me off."

"I'll be bound he thought you meant business with a dressmaker," I
laughingly replied, determined to show her that I was not unversed in
the ways of women.

"I'm afraid he did," she answered, blushing, "and I feel horribly
guilty. But my heart told me I must see you at once, whatever happened."

Could any man desire a prettier speech than that? If so, I was not that
man. We were inside the building by this time, ascending the great
staircase.

As we entered the room at the top of the stairs, I thought it a good
opportunity to ask the question I had been longing to put to her.

"Phyllis, my sweetheart," I said, with a tremor in my voice, "it is a
fortnight now since I spoke to you. You have had plenty of time to
consider our position. Have you regretted giving me your love?"

We came to a standstill, and leant over a case together, but what it
contained I'm sure I haven't the very vaguest idea.

She looked up into my face with a sweet smile.

"Not for one single instant, Dick! Having once given you my love, is it
likely I should want it back again?"

"I don't know. Somehow I can't discover sufficient reason for your
giving it to me at all."

"Well, be sure I'm not going to tell you. You might grow conceited.
Isn't it sufficient that I _do_ love you, and that I am not going to
give you up, whatever happens?"

"More than sufficient," I answered solemnly. "But, Phyllis, don't you
think I can induce your father to relent? Surely as a good parent he
must be anxious to promote your happiness at any cost to himself?"

"I can't understand it at all. He has been so devoted to me all my life
that his conduct now is quite inexplicable. Never once has he denied me
anything I really set my heart upon, and he always promised me that I
should be allowed to marry whomsoever I pleased, provided he was a good
and honourable man, and one of whom he could in any way approve. And you
are all that, Dick, or I shouldn't have loved you, I know."

"I don't think I'm any worse than the ordinary run of men, dearest, if I
am no better. At any rate I love you with a true and honourable love.
But don't you think he will come round in time?"

"I'm almost afraid not. He referred to it only yesterday, and seemed
quite angry that I should have dared to entertain any thought of you
after what he said to me on bo