"Wifehood is a woman's highest prerogative—"
"Not to be entered into hastily or unadvisedly," she interrupted with a mischievous smile.
She was a pretty, fascinating torment! His mother had said: "One wedding follows another among the bridesmaids. I hope you will come home with your day set."
"I am going to learn to cook and to keep house this winter," she began gravely. "And it takes a long time to make wedding clothes."
"Nonsense! There are cooks enough in the world. As for housekeeping, that is a woman's birthright. And at first you know we need not keep house. You will be in Washington with me, and then we can go over home—for I shall hardly let you out of my sight. Yes, let it be soon after Christmas."
"I can't be hurried in that fashion," she returned petulantly. "And I should get tired of you if you were such a jailer as never to let me out of your sight."
"You do not love me as I love you!"
"But you know I told you I was not quite sure I loved you enough. Love grows with some people, and with some it comes in a moment of time. Would you not rather have it grow year after year, and get richer and truer—"
Her voice fell to an exquisite softness, and touched him deeply.
"There can be only one truth to love," he said solemnly. Then he took her in his arms and pressed a kiss upon her forehead in a reverent manner.