"Have you ever had a—proposal?"
"Why do you compel me to give you an answer that must be humiliating? No; I have never had a proposal. But I dare say I shall have one or two before I die."
"I dare say. Unless you will now accept mine"—jestingly—"and make me the happiest of men."
"No, thank you. You make me such an admirable guardian that I could not bear to depose you. You are now in a proud position (considering the ward you have); do not rashly seek to better it."
"Your words are golden. But all this time you are keeping me in terrible suspense. You have not yet quite made friends with me."
Then Lilian places her hand in his.
"Though you don't deserve it," she says, severely, "still——"
"Still you do accept me—it, I mean," interrupts Guy, purposely, closing his fingers warmly over hers. "I shall never forget that fact. Dear little hand!" softly caressing it, "did I really scorn it an hour ago? I beg its pardon very humbly."
"It is granted," answers Lilian, gayly. But to herself she says, "I wonder how often has he gone through all this before?"
Nevertheless, in spite of doubts on both sides, the truce is signed for the present.