Von Rosen smiled kindly at her. “I don't blame you at all,” he replied. “I can understand it must be a dismal task to embroider daisies.”

“It is, Mr. von Rosen—” Annie hesitated.

“Yes,” said Von Rosen encouragingly.

“You know I never go to church.”

“Yes,” said Von Rosen mendaciously. He really did not know. In future he, however, would.

“Well, I don't go because—” again Annie hesitated, while the young man waited interrogatively.

Then Annie spoke with force. “I would really like to go occasionally,” she said, “I doubt if I would always care to.”

“No, I don't think you would,” assented Von Rosen with a queer delight.

“But I never can because—Grandmother is old and she has not much left in life, you know.”

“Of course.”