"
"When I left you two mornings ago," said Miss Vale, "I felt easier in
my mind than I had in months before. From what I had heard of you, I
felt sure that the little problem which I had set you would prove
absurdly simple. This feeling clung to me all day; I was light and
happy, and astonished my aunt, Mrs. Page, by consenting to go with
her to Mrs. Barron's that night, a thing that I had been refusing to
do for a long time.
"Late in the afternoon, Allan--Mr. Morris--came. As soon as I saw him
I knew that something had happened or was about to happen. There was
no color in his face; his eyes had a feverish glitter, his voice was
high pitched and excited. But I did not let him see that I noticed
this. I talked to him quietly about a score of things; and by a most
circuitous route approached the matter that interested me most--our
marriage.
"To my surprise he plunged into the subject with the greatest
eagerness. Before that, as I have told you, he always did his best to
avoid it; the least mention of it seemed to sadden him, to cause him
pain. But now he discussed it excitedly; apparently it was no longer a
dim, far-off thing, but one which he saw very clearly. As you may
imagine, I was both astonished and delighted.
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