“See here, Paul,” his friend replies, “it is a lovely evening and there will be quite a crowd and it will be the best time to see her. Come!”
When Scoris met them she was so natural that Paul was soon at his ease. She asked after his mother, sisters and friends in the colony and before the evening was over he felt quite comfortable with her, they had so many interests in common.
The next day they met in the park and he made up his mind that he would see her all that he could while he had a chance. They were with a party and it was impossible to talk about themselves.
Two days passed and still every one seemed to claim Scoris’ attention until Paul became desperate. “See her alone I will!” he exclaimed at last to the Prince. “Here is an answer to my note saying that she will go for a drive with me; now I intend to have it out with her. I can’t stand this any longer. If she is going to be married at home I shall leave the Colony until it is over.”
“That is all right,” the Prince had answered, “but while there is life there is hope, they say.”
They had driven two or three miles and every topic had been exhausted, still Paul had not touched on the one subject he was determined to talk about before they returned to the Colony.
Scoris could see by his face that he was suffering, but she had waited a long time for him to tell her what she now believed he was going to say and she wouldn’t help him. They had reached a grove that had been used for picnics and she suggested that they alight and walk around for a change. Wild flowers grew in abundance and she was gathering some when Paul said:
“Scoris, I would like to have a talk with you while we are here by ourselves. It is about your engagement. I had hoped to be able to say our engagement some time.” He paused a moment as if waiting for an answer, but she let him continue while she laid the flowers down in her lap to attend to what he had to say. “Do you love him?” he questioned, “and are you sure that he is good enough for you?”