"Say," said Johnny, "maybe if I don't see any
other girl I like better I will marry you when I am
grown up, but I won't if you don't stop that howl-
ing."

Lily stopped immediately. She peeped at him,
a blue peep from under the flopping, embroidered
brim of her hat. "Are you in earnest?" She smiled
faintly. Her blue eyes, wet with tears, were lovely;
so was her hesitating smile.

"Yes, if you don't act silly," said Johnny. "Now
you had better run home, or your mother will won-
der where that baby-carriage is."

Lily walked away, smiling over her shoulder, the
smile of the happily subjugated. "I won't tell any-
body, Johnny," she called back in her flute-like
voice.

"Don't care if you do," returned Johnny, looking
at her with chin in the air and shoulders square,
and Lily wondered at his bravery.

But Johnny was not so brave and he did care. He
knew that his best course was an immediate return
home, but he did not know what he might have to
face. He could not in the least understand why his
aunt Janet had not told at once. He was sure that
she knew. Then he thought of a possible reason for