University of Virginia Library

X.

“Jack,” she answered him, “just look at that sweet little red bird. Oo-h!” This last as he caught hold of her hands and held them almost roughly.

“Look at me, Koto!” he commanded.

She did so, and her eyes faltered and fell. She ceased to smile.

“Koto, give me a little hope.”

Still she did not reply.

“I have loved you ever since I met you. You remember that first day, don't you?—the deck chairs were all tied together and you were mad because you had lost yours.”

“Yes, and you found it for me.”

“You were so glad when I brought it over, and—”

“It was awfully good of you, Jack.”

“Koto, you will have me—be my wife?”

“It would be nice, I think, to get married—and—” she began slowly.

“Yes, yes, it would be, Koto. We are both young, and I have plenty. We could go wherever we pleased—do whatever we wanted, and—I love you so.”

“And I?”—she drew her hands from his—“Jack, I don't know whether I love you. I'm not sure of it. I—I think perhaps I do, but—now supposing I'm mistaken? That would be dreadful!”

“No, no—don't suppose that,” he begged eagerly.

“But we must, Jack. Now I did not suffer one bit when I thought you were in love with Natsu. Seems to me I really was pleased, and if I had loved you, I ought to have been perfectly miserable.”

“Oh, you knew it didn't amount to anything—only an infatuation.”

“It was a pretty serious thing to poor little Natsu,” she said coldly.

“She seemed just a child, and—”

“If she's a child, I must be a baby, for I'm two years younger,” said Koto girlishly.

“Oh, but you look—you seem so much older.”

“Oh, thank you, Mr. Carruthers.” This with a little toss of her head.

“Now, don't get offended. I—ah—am such a da—I beg pardon—I do—I really do—but—Koto, don't lets wander from the question—the great one—Will you have me?”

Koto considered a moment, her head on one side. None of her girl friends, that was sure, had such a nice looking sweetheart. She could go back amongst them and exhibit him with great pride. Still, she was pretty sure of him and in no hurry.

“Well, I tell you—I—think—I will—but wait”—as he tried to put his arm about her waist joyously—“I must get Uncle Phil's consent first.”

“Oh, he'll give it, of course he will.” Jack laughed confidently. “We may as well consider it settled now.”

“Well, you've got to wait till he says yes,” said Koto, a trifle pettishly.

“Let me measure the little finger for the ring anyhow.” He slipped a string round it, laughing joyously, and kissing the finger while the girl stood blushing, and looked as though she was undecided how to feel, whether to laugh with him, for there is something fascinating to a girl in an engagement ring, or whether she was going to cry, as she half felt like doing.

She would not permit him to kiss her even once, though he begged so hard, and when she reached the hotel, and ran off to her room alone, she sat down and looked at her third little finger as girls do who have just become engaged.

“But—but,” she said to the pretty picture in the glass, “I—I am not so sure. No, I am not so sure.

I wonder what Uncle Phil will say. I'll tell him to-morrow. He'll have to quit teasing me about 'mooney eyes,' and all that, like—like he speaks of—of Jack. That's a common name, but oh—I'm engaged to him. No—Yes—No—I am. It's the same thing. Of course Uncle Phil will say 'Yes.' I almost wish he wouldn't. Yes I do—because—I am not sure of myself after all.”