"Yes, I am--at your thinking I loved you so little as to be
biased against our marriage because of money troubles. Pooh!"
she flicked away a speck of dust from his coat, "I don't care
that for such things."

"You are an angel," he cried ardently.

"I am a very practical girl just now," she retorted. "Go on,
confess!"

Archie, thus encouraged, did so, and it was a very mild
confession that she heard, involving a great deal of unnecessary
sacrifice in helping a pauper uncle. Hope strove to belittle his
good deeds as much as possible, but Lucy saw plainly the good
heart that had dictated the giving up of his small income for
some years. When in possession of all the facts, she threw her
arms around his neck and kissed him.

"You are a silly old boy," she whispered. "As if what you tell
me could make any difference to me!"

"But we can't be married for six months, dearest."

"Of course not. Do you believe that I as a woman can gather
together my trousseau under six months? No, my dear. We must
not marry in haste to repent at leisure. In another half year
you will enjoy your own income, and then we can marry."

"But meanwhile," said Archie, after kissing her, "the Professor
will bother you to marry Random."