anything to say about it," said Sammy,
carelessly. "I've had a wonderful time, and every one's been charming.
And now I've got to go back."

"Sammy, I've no right to ask you a favor, but I've a REASON," Piet
began. He halted. Both were crimson.

"Yes, yes; I know, Piet," said Sammy, fluttered.

The car slackened, stopped. Their faces were not two feet apart.

"Well! Will you let me BEG you--for your aunt, and sister, and
for--well, for me, and for your own sake, Sammy--will you let me BEG
you just to wait? Here, or there, or anywhere else--will you just WAIT
a while?"

Sammy was silent a moment. Then--

"For what reason?" she said.

"Because you may save yourself lifelong unhappiness."

Sammy pondered, her lashes dropped, her hands clasped in her muff.

"Piet," she said gravely, "it's not as bad as that. No--I'll not be
unhappy. I love Wheatfield, and horses, and the old house, and--" she
hesitated, adding more brightly: "and you can MAKE happiness, you know!
Just because it's spring, or it's Thanksgiving, or you've got a good
book! Please go on," she urged suddenly. "We're very conspicuous here."

They moved slowly along under the bare trees. A sullen sunset colored
the western sky. The drive was filled with motor-cars, and groups of
riders galloped on the muddy bridle-path. It was just dusk. Suddenly,
as the lamplighters went their rounds, all the park bloomed with milky
disks of light.

"You see," Sammy went on presently, "I've thought this all out.
Anthony's a good man, and he loves me, and I--well, I've promised. What
RIGHT have I to say calmly that I've changed my mind, and to hurt him
and make him ridiculous before all the people he loves? He knows I'll
have money some day--no, Piet, you needn't look so! That has nothing to
do with it! But, of course, he KNOWS it; and I said we would have a
motor,--he's wild for one!--and entertain, don't you know, and that's
what he's waiting for and counting on. He doesn't DESERVE to be shamed
and humiliated. And, besides, it would break his mother's heart. She's
been awfully sweet to me. And it must be a BITTER thing to be told that
you're not good enough for the woman you love. Anthony saved my life,
you know, and I can't break my word. I said: 'On my oath, I'll come
back.' And just because there IS a difference between him--and us," she
hesitated, "he's all the prouder and more sensitive. And it's only a
difference in surface things!" finished Sammy, loyally.