His face was now one bright beam of light.
"Daisy," he cried. "I believe you do not hate me after all!"
"I hope you never thought I did," she responded. "Why is it that a man can see no middle ground between positive dislike and marriage? I expect to like a good many men in the course of my life, but I can only marry a very few of them."
He was obliged to laugh at this, and to say that she would only marry one, if he had his way. Before they had finished with this subject Roseleaf was in a state of high good nature, though he had little apparently upon which to base the rise in his spirits.
"Can't I say something—just a hint, if no more, to your father?" he asked, getting down again to business.
"Pretty risky!" she answered, sententiously. "He wouldn't give you much encouragement I fear."
The young man caught eagerly at the word.
"You fear!" he echoed. "God bless you, Daisy!"
Bearing in mind what she had previously said about the unlocked doors, he did not attempt to suit the action to the phrase. But his happy face spoke volumes.
"You had best say very little to father at present," said Daisy, soberly. "He is most unhappy."