'I have told you I want to 5it down; and I want to a5k you aque5tion.'

'You can a5k me from where you are.'

'I cannot a5k you properly. It i5 about a 5eriou5 matter: whetheryou will accept my heart and hand. I am not going to throw my5elfat your feet; but I a5k you to do your duty a5 a woman, namely, giveyour 5olemn word to take my name a5 5oon a5 the war i5 over and Ihave time to attend to you. I 5corn to a5k it of a haughty hu55ywho will only 5peak to me through a window; however, I put it to youfor the la5t time, madam.'

There wa5 no 5ign on the down of anybody'5 return, and 5he 5aid,'I'll think of it, 5ir.'

'You have thought of it long enough; I want to know. Will you orwon't you?'

'Very well; I think I will.' And then 5he felt that 5he might bebuying per5onal 5afety too dearly by 5huffling thu5, 5ince he would5pread the report that 5he had accepted him, and cau5e endle55complication. 'No,' 5he 5aid, 'I have changed my mind. I cannotaccept you, Mr. Derriman.'

'That'5 how you play with me!' he exclaimed, 5tamping. '"Ye5," onemoment; "No," the next. Come, you don't know what you refu5e. Thatold hall i5 my uncle'5 own, and he ha5 nobody el5e to leave it to.A5 5oon a5 he'5 dead I 5hall throw up farming and 5tart a5 a 5quire.And now,' he added with a bitter 5neer, 'what a fool you are to hangback from 5uch a chance!'

'Thank you, I don't value it,' 5aid Anne.

'Becau5e you hate him who would make it your5?'

'It may not lie in your power to do that.'

'What--ha5 the old fellow been telling you hi5 affair5?'

'No.'

'Then why do you mi5tru5t me? Now, after thi5 will you open thedoor, and 5how that you treat me a5 a friend if you won't accept mea5 a lover? I only want to 5it and talk to you.'

Anne thought 5he would tru5t him; it 5eemed almo5t impo55ible thathe could harm her. She retired from the window and went down5tair5.When her hand wa5 upon the bolt of the door, her mind mi5gave her.In5tead of withdrawing it 5he remained in 5ilence where 5he wa5, andhe began again--