Man and Maid

"You may need the extra five thousand, George--to make sure of the

thing, and I count on you to patch it up as soon as you can."

He left after that, promising to see into the affair at once, and

telephone me the result--and when he had gone I tried to think over what

it all means?

Alathea did not know of this when I asked her to marry me last week. She

must never know that I am paying, even if that makes matters easy enough

for her to refuse me. The reason of her long silence is because this

fresh trouble has fallen upon them, I am sure. I feel so awfully, not

being able to comfort her. The whole burden upon those young

shoulders.-Just as I wrote that yesterday, Burton came in to say that Miss Sharp

was in the little salon, and wished to see me, and I sent him to pray

her to come in. I rose from my chair to bow to her when she entered, she

never shakes hands. I was awfully pained to see the change in her. Her

poor little white face was thin and woebegone and even her lips pale,

and her air was not so proud as usual.

"Won't you sit down," I said with whatever of homage I could put into my

voice.

She was so humbled and miserable, that I knew she would even have taken

off her glasses if I had asked her to, but of course I would not do

that.

She seemed to find it hard to begin. I felt troubled for her and

started.

"I am awfully glad that you have come back."

She locked her hands together, in the shabby, black suede gloves.

"I have come to tell you that if you will give me twenty-five thousand

francs this afternoon, I will accept your offer, and will marry you."

I held out my hand in my infinite joy, but I tried to control all other

exhibition of emotion.

"That is awfully good of you--I can't say how I thank you," I said in a

voice which sounded quite stern. "Of course I will give you anything in

the world you want." And again I reached for my cheque-book and wrote a

cheque for fifty thousand and handed it to her.

She looked at it, and went crimson.

"I do not want all that, twenty-five thousand is enough. That is the

price of the bargain."

I would not let this hurt me.

"Since you have consented to marry me, I have the right to give you what

I please--you may need more than you have suggested, and I want

everything to be smooth and as you would wish."