bered how the lad stopped, astonished at his
boldness and his fluency, overcome suddenly
at the thought of what he was saying. The
music stopped with a discord. The girl
arose, trembling and scarlet.

"I would not have believed it of you,"
she cries, "to take advantage of me like
this, when I am alone -- and -- everything.
You know very well that nothing but trouble
could come to either of us from your telling
me a thing like that."

He puts his hands up to his face to keep
off her anger. He is trembling with
confusion.

Then she broke in penitently, trying to
pull his hands away from his hot face:
"Never mind! I know you didn't mean
anything. Be good, do, and don't spoil the
lovely times we have together. You know
very well father and mother wouldn't let us
see each other at all if they -- if they thought
you were saying anything such as you said
just now."

"Oh, but I can't help it!" cries the boy,
despairingly. "I have never loved anybody
at all till now. I don't mean not another