'No, no, you wouldn't have the heart to do that. You can always go to your books while I am mostly three hundred and fifty miles away. How many months is it since I saw you last?'
'Oh, two or three, I suppose.'
'It was in July, nearly six months ago; and you then said you would most likely come to Laurette's in November. But you didn't. You wouldn't come to the Cup, and you wouldn't drop me a line to say you were glad about Konrad—all to avoid giving me a chance. Now, don't make your eyes big, as if you didn't take in what I say. Why don't you ask me what chance?'
'Well, then, what chance?' returned the young lady, laughing, but with a heightened colour.
'To once more ask you to marry me.'
'Only once more? Then after that we may be fast friends.'
'Not at all—we shall be man and wife.'
'Oh, Ted! Well, I suppose we could hardly be both.'
They smiled in each other's faces, but the young man soon became grave.
'Stella, how often have I asked you to marry me?'