deliberately looked into her eyes, while his voice, with
vibrations of feeling in it which thrilled Stella, whispered in
her ear:

"It cannot go on, of course--you agree with me about that, do you
not?"

"What cannot go on?" she asked, to gain time to recover her
composure.

"This situation," he answered. "I am sure now that I love you--and
I want to teach you a number of things, first in importance being
that you shall love me."

"Oh, you must not say this," Stella protested feebly.

"Yes, I must, and you will listen to me, little star."

He drew nearer to her, and the amazing power of propinquity began
to assert itself. She felt as if the force to resist him were
leaving her, she was trembling all over with delicious thrills.

"I made up my mind almost immediately I saw you, sweet child," he
went on, "that you were what I have been waiting for all my life.
You are good and true--and balanced--or you will be that when I
have made your love education. Stella, look at me with those soft
eyes, and tell me that I mean something to you already, and that
the worthy Mr. Medlicott does not exist any more."

"I--I--but I have only known you for two days," Stella answered