"
"Well, well, I'll promise not to frown, even though some finer
paragon should throw me completely in the shade."
"You don't believe in my yet," he resumed, after a moment of
thought. "I felt that I had blundered awfully a while ago; but I
doubt it. A girl of your perceptions would soon have seen it all.
I've not lost anything by being frank from the start. Be just to
me, however. It wasn't policy that led me to speak, but this
homelike scene, and you appearing like the good genius of a home."
He pulled out his watch, and gave a low whistle as he held it
toward her. Then his manner suddenly became grave and gentle.
"Carrie," he said, "I wish you, not a merry Christmas, but a happy
one, and many of them. It seems to me it would be a great
privilege for a man to make a woman like you happy."
"Is this the beginning of the suit?" she asked with a laugh that
was a little forced.
"I don't know. Perhaps it is; but I spoke just as I felt. Good-
night."
She would not admit of a trace of sentiment on her part. "Good-
night," she said.
Pages:
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385