shame, shame."

"What is this all about?" asked Dr. Lacey, having some inkling of the
truth.

"Why," answered Florence, "you see, Mr. Middleton has conceived a fatherly
affection for me, and as he is rather rusty in such matters, he could
think of no better way of proposing than to put himself up as a prize, and
tell me if I beat him in playing chess, he would be mine, or in other
words, make me Mrs. Billy Middleton."

"And who beat?" asked Julia.

"Why, Mr. Middleton was ill-mannered enough to win," said Florence, "but
then, it was such fun to see how desperately he played, for fear I should
get him! Now, Dr. Lacey, I suppose you have been proposing to Julia in the
real old, orthodox way, but that is too common. You must sit down at the
chessboard and let Julia play for you," and she pushed them both toward
the chairs, which she and Mr. Middleton had just vacated.

Julia did not refuse, but Dr. Lacey, freeing himself from Florence, said,
"Excuse me tonight, Miss Woodburn. Perhaps at some other time I will
comply with your request," then bowing, he left the veranda and went to
his own room.

When there he strove to recall the events of the evening, and the words he
had involuntarily spoken to Julia. "Why is it," said he, "that I feel so
uneasy whenever I am alone with her? Is it that I love her and am afraid I
shall tell her so? No, that cannot be. I do not love her; and yet, next to
Fanny, she is more agreeable to me than any one else."