And they had approached to within touching distance of each other.
"I don't know," she said. "What are you?"
"It was too early to pay calls," he said, "so I thought I'd have one more whack at the big char and bring him to you for a present. But tell me—does our bet still stand?"
He looked at her so tenderly and lovingly and hopefully that she hadn't the heart to be anything but tender and loving herself.
"The bet still stands," she said, "if you win. I've missed you terribly."
"I took him," said the earl. "I was just weighing him when you called. He weighs a lot more than three pounds. So I win."
"Yes, you win."
"And the bet still stands?"
She nodded happily.
"And you won't renege—you'll pay? You'll be Countess of Merrivale?"