“You don’t follow him into the parlour?” asks Grizel, anxiously.

“Follow whom?” Tommy replies severely.  “I don’t even know that he has gone to the parlour; now that I think of it, I have not even noticed that he has left the kitchen; nor has Aaron noticed it.  Aaron and I are not in a condition to notice such things; we are conscious only that at last we have the opportunity for the quiet social chat we so much enjoy in each other’s company.  That, at least, is Aaron’s way of looking at it, and he keeps me there with talk of the most varied and absorbing character; one topic down, another up; when very hard put to it, he even questions me about my next book, as if he would like to read the proof-sheets, and when I seem to be listening, a little restively, for sounds from the parlour (the piano has stopped), he has the face of one who would bar the door rather than lose my society.  Aaron appreciates me at my true value at last, Grizel.  I had begun to despair almost of ever bringing him under my charm.”

“I should be very angry with you,” Grizel said warningly, “if I thought you teased the poor old man.”

“Tease him!  The consideration I show that poor old man, Grizel, while I know all the time that he is plotting to diddle me!  You should see me when it is he who is fidgeting to know why the piano has stopped.  He stretches his head to listen, and does something to his ear that sends it another inch nearer the door; he chuckles and groans on the sly; and I—­I notice nothing.  Oh, he is becoming quite fond of me; he thinks me an idiot.”

“Why not tell him that you want it as much as he?”

“He would not believe me.  Aaron is firmly convinced that I am too jealous of Elspeth’s affection to give away a thimbleful of it.  He blames me for preventing her caring much even for him.”

“At any rate,” said Grizel, “he is on our side, and it is because he sees it would be so much the best thing for her.”

“And, at the same time, such a shock to me.  That poor old man, Grizel!  I have seen him rubbing his hands together with glee and looking quite leery as he thought of what was coming to me.”

But Grizel could not laugh now.  When Tommy saw so well through Aaron and David, through everyone he came in contact with, indeed, what hope could there be that he was deceived in Elspeth?

“And yet she knows what takes him there; she must know it!” she cried.

“A woman,” Tommy said, “is never sure that a man is in love with her until he proposes.  She may fancy—­but it is never safe to fancy, as so many have discovered.”

“She has no right,” declared Grizel, “to wait until she is sure, if she does not care for him.  If she fears that he is falling in love with her, she knows how to discourage him; there are surely a hundred easy, kind ways of doing that.”

“Fears he is falling in love with her!” Tommy repeated.  “Is any woman ever afraid of that?”