tightly about her and himself. Half a dozen times Saxon found
herself on the verge of the remark, "What's on your mind?" but
each time let it remain unuttered. She sat very close to him. The
warmth of their bodies intermingled, and she was aware of a great
restfulness and content.

"Say, Saxon," he began abruptly. "It's no use my holdin' it in
any longer. It's ben in my mouth all day, ever since lunch.
What's the matter with you an' me gettin' married?"

She knew, very quietly and very gladly, that he meant it.
Instinctively she was impelled to hold off, to make him woo her,
to make herself more desirably valuable ere she yielded. Further,
her woman's sensitiveness and pride were offended. She had never
dreamed of so forthright and bald a proposal from the man to whom
she would give herself. The simplicity and directness of Billy's
proposal constituted almost a hurt. On the other hand she wanted
him so much--how much she had not realized until now, when he had
so unexpectedly made himself accessible.

"Well you gotta say something, Saxon. Hand it to me, good or bad;
but anyway hand it to me. An' just take into consideration that I
love you. Why, I love you like the very devil, Saxon. I must,
because I'm askin' you to marry me, an' I never asked any girl
that before."

Another silence fell, and Saxon found herself dwelling on the
warmth, tingling now, under the lap-robe. When she realized
whither her thoughts led, she blushed guiltily in the darkness.