There's a country song I've heard Minty sing," she said. "It runs--

Come, Philander, let us be a-marchin',
Every one for his true love a-sarchin'
Choose your true love now or never. . . .

Have you been listening to her also?"

"No," said Mainwaring, with a sudden incomprehensible, but utterly
irrepressible, resolution; "but I'M 'a-marchin',' you know, and perhaps
I must 'choose my true love now or never.' Will you help me, Miss Macy?"

He drew gently near her. He had become quite white, but also very manly,
and it struck her, more deeply, thoroughly, and conscientiously sincere
than any man who had before addressed her. She moved slightly away, as
if to rest herself by laying both hands upon the back of the chair.

"Where do you expect to begin your 'sarchin''?" she said, leaning on
the chair and tilting it before her; "or are you as vague as usual as to
locality? Is it at some 'Mr. Johnson' or 'Mr. Pico,' or--"

"Here," he interrupted boldly.

"I really think you ought to first tell my cousin that you are going
away to-morrow," she said, with a faint smile. "It's such short notice.
She's just in there." She nodded her pretty head, without raising her
eyes, towards the hall.

"But it may not be so soon," said Mainwaring.

"Oh, then the 'sarchin'' is not so important?" said Louise, raising
her head, and looking towards the hall with some uneasy but indefinable
feminine instinct.

She was right; the sitting-room door opened, and Mrs. Bradley made her
smiling appearance.

"Mr. Mainwaring was just looking for you," said Louise, for the first
time raising her eyes to him. "He's not only sent off Mr. Richardson,
but he's going away himself to-morrow."

Mrs. Bradley looked from the one to the other in mute wonder. Mainwaring
cast an imploring glance at Louise, which had the desired effect. Much
more seriously, and in a quaint, business-like way, the young girl took
it upon herself to explain to Mrs. Bradley that Richardson had brought
the invalid some important news that would, unfortunately, not only
shorten his stay in America, but even compel him to leave The Lookout
sooner than he expected, perhaps to-morrow. Mainwaring thanked her with
his eyes, and then turned to Mrs. Bradley.

"Whether I go to-morrow or next day," he said with simple and earnest
directness, "I intend, you know, to see you soon again, either here or
in my own home in England. I do not know," he added with marked gravity,