"It's this beastly weather," said Flanders. "I never can think well in
cold weather. I seem to freeze up."

Frederick was relieved. "I guess maybe that's it. When are you going
to marry her?" The last was a genuine, unrehearsed inquiry and
completely summed up the situation so far as he was concerned.

"It isn't quite settled. A great deal depends on circumstances."

"Money?"

"In a way, yes."

"What does she say about it? Is she willing to wait eight or ten years
for you?"

"She says she will wait forever," said Flanders, a bit puzzled by the
new turn.

"Well, that's all right, then," said Frederick and to Richard's
amazement he squared his shoulders and heaved a long sigh, as of
relief. "Excuse me, please, I've got to hustle. Melissa--" He stopped
in painful confusion. It had been on the tip of his ingenuous tongue
to blurt out something that would have spoiled all that had gone
before. It had to do with Melissa's present whereabouts and her oft-
repeated claim that if Flanders kept Miss Fairweather waiting long
enough he'd lose her, sure as a shot!

An amazing thing happened to Frederick that evening, just before