are concerned--not any question of pride nor of any silly

misunderstandings, nor of any uncle's wishes, nor of anything but just

you, Peggy. It's just you that I care for now--just you."

"Ah!" Margaret cried, with a swift intake of the breath that was

almost a sob. He had dared, after all; oh, it was shameless, sordid!

And yet (she thought dimly), how dear that little quiver in his voice

had been were it unplanned!--and how she could have loved this big,

eager boy were he not the hypocrite she knew him!

She'd

show him! But somehow--though it was manifestly what he