“‘Commonburg,’ Miss Tucker? No? Then bring the coffee, please.”
A desperate silence fell between them, they who had talked unendingly for days and evenings!
When Walter brought the tray with the coffee-pot and the two little cups, Appleton suddenly pushed his chair back, saying: “Let us take our coffee over by the window, shall we, and perhaps I may have a cigarette later? Don’t light the gas, waiter—we want to see the hills and the afterglow.”
There was no avoiding it; Appleton and the waiter conveyed Tommy helplessly over to a table commanding the view and the sunset, and it was the one on which the huge “Engaged” placard reared itself persuasively and suggestively.
“We shall need nothing more, waiter; you may go; I think this will cover the bill,”—and scorning the chair opposite Tommy, Appleton seated himself beside her.
“You have turned your back to the afterglow,” she said, as she reached forward to move “Engaged” to a position a trifle less obvious.
“I don’t care tuppence about the afterglow,” and Appleton covered her hand with his own. “Make it come true, dear, dear Tommy! Make it come true!”
“What?” she asked, between a smile and a tear.
“The placard, dear, the placard! If you should travel the world over, you couldn’t find a man who loves you as I do.”
“What would be the use in my traveling about to find another man when I am so satisfied with this one?” whispered Tommy. “Oh, remember! they may come back at any moment!”