"I suppose you are right. Still, it is a very serious thing for two
people to marry without knowing something of each other's lives."

"I am tired of walking," said Miss Earle, "I am now going to seek
comfort in the luxuriousness, as you call it, of my steamer chair."

"And may I go with you?" asked the young man.

"If you also are tired of walking."

"You know," he said, "you promised the whole afternoon. You took the
forenoon with 'The Siege,' and now I don't wish to be cheated out of my
half of the day."

"Very well, I am rather interested in another story, and if you will
take 'The Siege of London,' and read it, you'll find how much better the
book is than my telling of the story."

George Morris had, of course, to content himself with this proposition,
and they walked together to the steamer chairs, over which the gaily
coloured rugs were spread.

"Shall I get your book for you?" asked the young man, as he picked up
the rugs.

"Thank you," answered Miss Earle, with a laugh, "you have already done
so," for, as he shook out the rugs, the two books, which were small
handy volumes, fell out on the deck.

"I see you won't accept my hint about not leaving the books around. You