she had never quite fathomed--half cynical, half amused--"is to
pretend that last night--never was."

He waited for her verdict.

"We will not do that," she replied softly; "we will take the other
alternative, whatever it is."

She glanced up half shyly beneath her lashes, and he felt that no
difficulty could affright him.

"The other is generally supposed to be very difficult," he said.
"It means--waiting."

"Oh," she answered cheerfully, "there is no hurry. I do not want to
be married yet."

"Waiting perhaps for years," he added--and he saw her face drop.

"Why?"

"Because I am dependent on my father for everything. We could not
marry without his consent."

A peculiar, hard look crept into her eyes, and in some subtle way it
made her look older. After a little pause she said:

"But we can surely get that--between us?"

"I propose doing without it."