Brandon of the Engineers

When he reached the house, Clare was sitting at a table in the patio with

some work in her hand. Close by, the purple creeper spread across the

wall, and the girl's blue eyes and thin lilac dress harmonized with its

deeper color. Her face and half-covered arms showed pure white against

the background, but the delicate pink that had once relieved the former

was now less distinct. The hot, humid climate had begun to set its mark

on her, and Dick thought she looked anxious and perplexed.

She glanced up when she heard his step, and moving quietly forward he

stopped on the opposite side of the table with his hand on a chair. He

knew there was much against him and feared a rebuff, but delay might be

dangerous and he could not wait. Standing quietly resolute, he fixed his

eyes on the girl's face.

"Is your father at home, Miss Kenwardine?" he asked.

"No," said Clare. "He went out some time ago, and I cannot tell when he

will come back. Do you want to see him?"

"I don't know yet. It depends."

He thought she was surprised and curious, but she said nothing, and

nerving himself for the plunge, he resumed: "I came to see you in the

first place. I'm afraid you'll be astonished, Clare, but I want to know

if you will marry me."

She moved abruptly, turned her head for a moment, and then looked up at

him while the color gathered in her face. Her expression puzzled Dick,

but he imagined that she was angry.

"I am astonished. Isn't it a rather extraordinary request, after what you

said on board the launch?"

"No," said Dick, "it's very natural from my point of view. You see, I

fell in love with you the first time we met; but I got into disgrace soon

afterwards and have had a bad time since. This made it impossible for me

to tell you what I felt; but things are beginning to improve----"

He stopped, seeing no encouragement in her expression, for Clare was

fighting a hard battle. His blunt simplicity made a strong appeal. She

had liked and trusted him when he had with callow but honest chivalry

offered her his protection one night in England and he had developed fast

since then. Hardship had strengthened and in a sense refined him. He

looked resolute and soldierlike as he waited. Still, for his sake as well

as hers, she must refuse.

"Then you must be easily moved," she said. "You knew nothing about me."

"I'd seen you; that was quite enough," Dick declared and stopped. Her

look was gentler and he might do better if he could lessen the distance

between them and take her hand; he feared he had been painfully

matter-of-fact. Perhaps he was right, but the table stood in the way, and

if he moved round it, she would take alarm. It was exasperating to be

baulked by a piece of furniture.