Jack, who had been dining at Mrs. Fairhew's, was taking leave of Katrine one evening a few weeks before the day set for the wedding. The farewell had all the characteristic deliberateness which has marked the unwilling separation of engaged couples from time immemorial, and was to-night prolonged more than usual by his teasing refusal to answer a question.

"Do tell me what the great secret is between you and Mr. Drake, Jack," she begged. "I think you are perfectly horrid!"

He looked down into her face and laughed softly.

"You're not," he returned. "You're perfectly stunning to-night."

"Of course I am," she retorted, laughing and pouting; "but you can't put me off with a compliment. If you hadn't meant to tell me, you wouldn't have spoken about it at all; and I think you've teased me enough. What is it about the President and you?"

She touched the tips of her fingers to his cravat, as if she were straightening it, whereas she was probably only exerting instinctively her privilege of proprietorship in Jack and his belongings.

"Well," he laughed, "you have borne it beautifully, and I've had you crazy with curiosity till I don't dare put off telling you. But you'll probably lie awake half the night thinking about it."

"That depends upon how important it is."

"I expect to be paid for telling you," he declared with a look that made her flush.

"I should think you might be generous enough to tell me for nothing," she responded; but her dimples deepened.

He stooped forward quickly, and kissed her. Then he took both her hands in his, and stood caressing them while he went on.

"The news is this," he said. "We've got to change our plans for the wedding journey from stem to stern."

"Why, Jack! What do you mean?"

"It's a fact, dear," he went on, assuming an expression of profound regret which was too obviously artificial to be depressing.

"But why?"

"Because—Are you ready for a great shock? Wouldn't you like me to support you in case you couldn't bear it?"

"Don't be silly," she urged, with an adorable smile. "Because what?"

"Because Uncle Randolph has given us the Merle as a wedding present. He told me this afternoon, so that we should have time to shape our plans accordingly."

"Oh, dear Jack!"

"Splendid of him, isn't it? How would it strike you to have the Merle sent over and to take a whole year in her on the Mediterranean?"

"Oh, that would be too beautiful!" Katrine cried.

She clasped her hands, and looked up at him with loving brave eyes. Her first thought was of his pleasure, and instantly followed the reflection that she was making her first sacrifice; for her quick mind foresaw that Jack on a yacht, with duties in which he delighted, would probably be less wholly hers than in the travel by land which they had arranged. She smiled wonderfully, and for the first time in their engagement she bent forward of her own accord, and offered him her lips.

The Riverside Press

Electrotyped and printed by H. O. Houghton & Co.

Cambridge, Mass., U. S. A.