"That is better."
What a fine dinner it was! With that tact of which only a woman of the world is capable she drew him out by degrees. He became animated, merry, witty; all the channels of his broadly educated mind loosed their currents. He was the poet and the man of letters.
"But what would you do in my place, John?" she asked finally.
"As to what?"
"As to the man whose poverty keeps him outside my gates; this man I love, whose pride is striving to cheat me out of that which is mine own?"
All the light went out of Williard's eyes. He had forgotten!
"You are sure he loves you?"
"Oh, yes!"
"Well," with a forced smile, "this is the last week of leap year; why not ask him? Custom allows such action once in four years."
"You are not laughing?"