Pauline flushed scarlet and compressed her lips. She said presently: "You're sure you wish it?"
"Wish what?"
"To marry me. Sometimes I've thought we're both too young, that we might wait——"
He put his arm round her with an air of proud possession. "What'd be the sense in that?" he demanded gaily. "Aren't you MINE?"
And again she flushed and lowered her eyes and compressed her lips. Then she astonished him by flinging her arms round his neck and kissing him hysterically. "But I DO love you!" she exclaimed. "I do! I DO!"
IX.
A THOROUGHBRED RUNS AWAY.
It was midday six weeks later, and Pauline and Dumont were landing at Liverpool, when Scarborough read in the college-news column of the Battle Field Banner that she had "married the only son of Henry Dumont, of Saint Christopher, one of the richest men in our state, and has departed for an extended foreign tour." Olivia—and Pierson naturally—had known, but neither had had the courage to tell him.
Scarborough was in Pierson's room. He lowered the paper from in front of his face after a few minutes.