"Then you have--seen it--too?" he stammered
"'Seen it, too,'" laughed Kate, with her confident eyes on William's
flushed face, "I should say I had seen it! Any one could see it."
William blushed again. Love to him had always been something sacred;
something that called for hushed voices and twilight. This merry
discussion in the sunlight of even another's love was disconcerting.
"Now come, William," resumed Kate, after a moment; "speak to Billy, and
have the matter settled once for all. It's worrying you. I can see it
is."
Again William stirred uneasily.
"But, Kate, I can't do anything. I told you before; I don't believe
Billy is--ready."
"Nonsense! Ask her."
"But Kate, a girl won't marry against her will!"
"I don't believe it is against her will."
"Kate! Honestly?"
"Honestly! I've watched her."
"Then I WILL speak," cried the man, his face alight, "if--if you think
anything I can say would--help. There is nothing--nothing in all this
world that I so desire, Kate, as to have that little girl back home. And
of course that would do it. She'd live there, you know."
"Why, of--course," murmured Kate, with a puzzled frown. There was
something in this last remark of William's that she did not quite
understand. Surely he could not suppose that she had any idea that after
he had married Billy they would go to live anywhere else;--she thought.
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