called softly, "Mr. Winton!" and the new-comer dropped back into the
snow and came tramping to the rear.

It was an awkward moment for Jastrow; but he made shift to dodge
again, and so to be out of the way when the engineer drew himself up
and climbed the hand-rail to stand beside his summoner.

The secretary saw him take her hand and heard her exclamation, half
indignant, wholly reproachful:

"You had my note: I told you not to come!"

"So you did, and yet you were expecting me," he asserted. He was still
holding her hand, and she could not--or did not--withdraw it.

"Was I, indeed!" There was a touch of the old-time raillery in the
words, but it was gone when she added: "Oh, why will you keep on
coming and coming when you know so well what it means to you and your
work?"

"I think you know the answer to that better than anyone," he rejoined,
his voice matching hers for earnestness. "It is because I love you;
because I could not stay away if I should try. Forgive me, dear; I did
not mean to speak so soon. But you said in your note that you would be
leaving Argentine immediately--that I should not see you again: so I
had to come. Won't you give me a word, Virginia?--a waiting word, if
it must be that?"

Jastrow held his breath, hope dying within him and sullen ferocity
crouching for the spring if her answer should urge it on. But when she