"Would—would you—ask him?" he stammered. "He would do anything for you."
"Yes," she responded, softly, "I will ask him. But we had best be together. I do not want to broach the matter unless you are there."
In a few days the opportunity came. Mr. Weil heard the voice he loved best explaining the situation.
"We want Millie to understand," said Daisy. "If she—if she still likes Shirley herself, there may be an unpleasant scene, and you will see how difficult it is for either of us to tell her. But you, who have done so many kindnesses for us, could convey the information to her without the diffidence we should feel. Will you, dear Mr. Weil?"
And Archie said he would, and that it would be a pleasure to him. And a bright light illumined the faces of the young people, as another stone was rolled out of the pathway their feet were to tread.
Mr. Weil did not know how to approach his subject except by a more or less direct route. One day he was talking with Miss Fern about her new novel, and she spoke of Mr. Roseleaf in connection with its nearness to the required revision.
"I don't know as Shirley will find time to help you out," he replied. "He is so busy just now with Miss Daisy."
She did not seem to comprehend him in the least.
"Oh, he is merely filling in the time, as a matter of amusement," she answered. "When I am ready he will be."
He looked at her earnestly.