a myth. Come, it's settled, isn't it? We're engaged."

He pressed her closer. He bent to kiss her, but she turned her
face away. His lips only found her neck, but he made the most of
that. She had to exert her strength to free herself.

"No," she said. "We're not engaged. We can't be engaged--until I
have heard from Guy."

He suppressed a short word of impatience. "And suppose you don't
hear?" he asked.

She made a blind movement with her hands. "Then---I give in."

"You will marry me?" he insisted.

"If you like," she answered drearily. "I expect you will very soon
get tired of me."

"There's a remedy for everything," he answered jauntily. "But we
needn't consider that. I'm just mad to get you, you poor little
icicle. I'll warm you up, never fear. When you've been married to
me a week, you won't know yourself." She shivered and was silent.

He turned in his tracks, perceiving he was making no headway.
"Then we're engaged provisionally anyway," he insisted. "There's
no need to contradict the general impression--unless we're obliged.
We'll behave like lovers--till further notice."

She got to her feet. Her knees were trembling. The net was close