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"What can they say?" she asked, uncoly

"Well, of course, they will talk about our being in the tree

together--and--all that kind of thing, you know They will s as unpleasant for us as they can They --and I thought, perhaps you

nity at once "I certainly shouldn't like it,"

she said "About being in the tree, that does not matter, of course,

but I hope you will keep ether I

must ask you to do that for me"

Then he rushed on his fate Many a time he had pictured hoould

wait till they were alone together in the garden on soht, and he would take her hand, and tell her howbefore hiasping out, in

what seemed somebody's else's voice, "Couldn't we--look here, Miss

Grant, won't you be engaged to me? Then it won't matter what they

say"

He tried to take her hand, but she drew back, white to the lips

"No, no; let o," she said Then the colour came back

to her face, and she drew herself up, and spoke slowly and cuttingly: "I thank you very much for what you have just said But I really