was faithfully reflected, she said simply, just in
her mother's own quaint way--

"I do not know why you talk about this at all. I thought it was all
settled long ago!"

"Settled!" faltered Lorimer astonished,--he was generally
self-possessed, but this fair young lady's perfect equanimity far
surpassed his at that moment--"Settled! My darling! my child--I am so
much older than you are--"

"I don't like _boys_!" she declared, with stately disdain. "I was your
wife when I was little--and I thought it was to be the same thing now I
am big! I told mother so, and she was quite pleased. But of course, if
you don't want me--"

She was not allowed to finish her sentence, for Lorimer, with a sudden
rush of joy that almost overpowered him, caught her in his arms and
pressed the first lover's kiss on her pure, innocently smiling lips.

"Want you!" he murmured passionately, with a strange sweet mingling of
the past and present in his words. "I have always wanted--Thelma!"

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