"Well," he began, suddenly realizing that this was a great deal harder than he had supposed ("She'll think I'm going to bother her with a proposal," he thought),--"well, the fact is, Lois, there's something I want you to know.

Perhaps it doesn't really interest you, in one way; I mean, it is only a--a happiness of my own, and it won't make any difference in our friendship, but I wanted you to know it." In a moment Miss Deborah's suggestion was a certainty to Lois.

She clasped her hands tight around the handle of her grass basket; Gifford should not see them tremble.

"I'm sure I'll be glad to hear anything that makes you happy." Her voice had a dull sound in her own ears.
"Helen put it into my head to tell you," Gifford went on nervously.

"I hope you won't feel that I am not keeping my word"-- She held her white chin a little higher.