"John Leaver, it is as you say. I have known, from the
first, that I--must love you. You made me, in spite of myself. I
couldn't--couldn't help it!"
He bent his head, with a low murmur of happiness. Then: "And I thought I
could do without words!" he said.
For the first time in many days Charlotte's lips curved suddenly into the
little provoking, arch smile which was one of her greatest charms.
"I never thought I could!" she said.
He laughed. "You shall not! And now I'm going to speak some very definite
words to which I want a very definite answer. Charlotte, you are--I can't
bear to remind you--as far as kinspeople go, quite alone in the world.
There is no reason why that should be true. The nearest of all relations
can be yours to-morrow. Will you marry me to-morrow, before we go North?
Then we shall be quite free to stop in Baltimore or to go on as you
prefer. I can go with you, at once, to close up the little house, if you
wish. Is there any reason why we should stay apart a day longer?"
"I don't know of any that would appeal to you. But there is one."
"May I know it?"
She hesitated. "I'm--very shabby," she said, reluctantly; "much shabbier
than you can guess."
"We'll go by the way of New York, and you can buy all you need. That's an
objection which turns into an argument for the other side, for I want
very much to see a certain old friend in New York, who was out of town
when I landed last week.
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