"I am glad you understand me," she said. "I am not a marrying woman."

"Not at all," he assured her.

"No, I am not; and Nina--the darling--doesn't understand. Why, what do
you suppose!--but _would_ it be a breach of confidence to anybody if I
told you?"

"I doubt it," he said; "what is it you have to tell me?"

"Only--it's very, very silly--only several men--and one nice enough to
know better--Sudbury Gray--"

"Asked you to marry them?" he finished, nodding his head at the cat.

"Yes," she admitted, frankly astonished; "but how did you know?"

"Inferred it. Go on."

"There is nothing more," she said, without embarrassment. "I told Nina
each time; but she confused me by asking for details; and the details
were too foolish and too annoying to repeat. . . . I do not wish to
marry anybody. I think I made that very plain to--everybody."

"Right as usual," he said cheerfully; "you are too intelligent to
consider that sort of thing just now."

"You _do_ understand me, don't you?" she said gratefully. "There are so
many serious things in life to learn and to think of, and that is the