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The Nest Builder by Beatrice Forbes-Robertson Hale
page 46 of 379 (12%)
plans. Before breakfast they were together, pacing the sun-swept deck.

Mary took it for granted that their engagement would continue till
Stefan's pictures were sold, till they had found work, till their future
was in some way arranged. Stefan, who was enormously under her influence,
and a trifle, in spite of his rapture, in awe of her sweet
reasonableness, listened at first without demur. After breakfast,
however, which they ate together, he occupying the place of a late comer
at her table after negotiation with the steward, his impatient
temperament asserted itself in a burst.

"Dearest one," he cried, when they were comfortably settled in their
favorite corner of the boat deck, "listen! I'm sure we're all wrong. I
know we are. Why should you and I--" and he took her hand--"wait and plan
and sour ourselves as little people do? We've both got to live, haven't
we? And we are going to live; you don't expect we shall starve, do you?"

She shook her head, smiling.

"Well, then," triumphantly, "why shouldn't we live together? Why, it
would be absurd not to, even from the base and practical point of view.
Think of the saving! One rent instead of two--one everything instead of
two!" His arm gave her a quick pressure.

"Yes, but--" she demurred.

He turned on her suddenly. "You don't want to wait for trimmings
--clothes, orange blossoms, all that stuff--do you?" he expostulated.

"No, of course not, foolish one," she laughed.
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