e
behind. So he stumbled around to the back to find the window of her
room aglow behind its curtain, and, receiving no answer to his knock,
he entered, for it was customary at Gale's to waive ceremony. Inside
the big room he paused, then stepped swiftly across and rapped at her
door, falling back a pace as she came out.

Instead of speaking at once, as he had planned, to prevent her
escaping, he was struck speechless, for the vision that met his eyes
was that which he had seen one blithe spring morning three months
before; but to-night there was no shawl to conceal her sweetly rounded
neck and shoulders, whose whiteness was startling against the black of
the ball-room gown. The slim gold chain hung around her neck and her
hair was piled high, as before. He noted every smallest detail as she
stood there waiting for him to speak, forgetful of everything else.

She had put on the gown again to see if, perchance, there might be some
mark of her blood or breed that had escaped her previous scrutiny, and,
as there was no one to observe her, she had attired herself slowly,
absorbed in her whimsy. Her wistful beauty dazed the young man and
robbed him of the words he had rehearsed; but as she made to flee from
him, with a pitiful gesture, towards her room, the fear of losing her
aroused him and spurred his wit.

"Don't go away! I have something I must tell you. I've thought it over,
and you've got to listen, Necia."

"I am listening," she answered, very quietly.

"Understand me, I'm not whining, and I'm willing to take my medicine. I
couldn't talk or think very straight this afternoon, but you were
wrong."

"Yes, I know now, I was wrong. It was most unlady-like, wasn't it? But
you see, I am only a little savage."

"I don't mean that; I mean you were wrong when you said I had played
with you. In the sight of God, I swear you were mistaken. You have made
me love you, Necia. Can't you see?"

She made no sign.

"If you can't, I owe it to you and to myself to set you right. I am not
ashamed to acknowledge my love, and even when you are married to Poleon
I want you to know that I shall love you always."

Even yet she made no sign. Was he not merely repeating the same empty
words with which he had so often beguiled her? There was no word of
marriage: he still considered her unworthy, beneath him. The pain of it
caused the girl to wince suddenly, and her sensitive face flinched,
seeing which he broke out:

"You do love me