"
"How fierce you are!" said Mrs. Rosscott. "Why do you get so worked up?"
"Oh," he exclaimed, with something approaching a groan, "I don't mean to
be--but I do care so much! And sometimes--" he caught her quickly in his
arms, drew her within their strong embrace, and kissed her passionately
upon the lips that had been tantalizing him for five interminable months.
He was almost frightened the next second by her stillness.
"Don't be angry," he pleaded.
"I'm not," she murmured, resting very quietly with her cheek against his
heart. "But you'll have to marry me now. My other husband did, you know."
"Marry you!" he exclaimed. "Next week? To-morrow? This afternoon? You need
only say when--"
"Oh, not for years and years," she said, interrupting him. "You mustn't
dream of such a thing for years and years!"
"For years and years!" he cried in astonishment.
"That's what I said," she told him.
He released her in his surprise and stared hard at her. And then he seized
her again and kissed her soundly.
"You don't mean it!" he declared.
"I do mean it!" she declared.
And then she shook her head in a very sweet but painfully resolute manner.
"I won't be called a cradle-robber," she said, firmly; and at that her
companion swore mildly but fervently.
"You're so young," she said further; "and not a bit settled," she added.
"But you're young, too," he reminded her.
"I'm older than you are," she said.
"I suppose that you aren't any more settled than I am, and that's why you
hesitate," he said grimly.
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