A silence followed, while they gazed at each other.
“Why, Samuel!” she exclaimed.
“Miss Gladys,” he said in a low voice, “you told me that you loved me.”
“Yes,” she said, “but surely—” And then suddenly she bit her lips together exclaiming, “This has gone too far!”
“Miss Gladys!” he cried.
“Samuel,” she said, “we have been two bad children; and we must not go on in this way.”
The boy gave a gasp of amazement.
“I had no idea that you were taking me so seriously,” she continued. “It wasn't fair to me.”
“Then—then you don't love me!” he panted.
“Why—perhaps,” she replied, “how can I tell? But one does not marry because one loves, Samuel.”