Mrs. Vaughn went above stairs with the children.
Then Trove took Polly's hand. They looked deeply into each other's eyes a moment, both smiling.
"It's your move," said she, smiling as her glance fell.
He moved all the checkers.
There came a breath of silence, and a great surge of happiness that washed every checker off the board, and left the two with flushed faces. Then, as Mrs. Vaughn was coming downstairs, the checkers began to rattle into position.
"I won," said he, as the door opened.
"But he didn't play fair," said Folly.
"Children, I'm afraid you're playing more love than checkers," said the widow. "You're both too young to think of marriage."
Those two looked thoughtfully at the checkerboard, Polly's chin resting on her hand. She had begun to smile.
"I'm sure Mr. Trove has no such thought in his head," said she, still looking at the board.