“But I do not want to be held here!  Oh, Lancy! let go my hands.  I must go home.”

“Be quiet and listen to me a minute, Dexie; only a minute.  I want to tell you that, when I left you both in the sleigh last night, I felt far worse about leaving you than my own sister.  Do you know why, Dexie?”

“I don’t want to know, Lancy.  I don’t want to hear another word.”

“You can’t get away from me, Dexie; so don’t try.  I want to tell you,” he added, in a lower tone, “that before last night I never knew why it was that I liked to spend all the time I could with you.  I thought it was on account of our music, but as I walked through the storm last night the truth came to me.  I love you, Dexie, and that is why my heart kept me up till I found help.  I was almost wild with fear that something would happen to you before I could get you safely sheltered.  Yes, darling, I love you; and the thought has made me feel so light of heart that I could sing all the time for very joy.”

“Oh, Lancy! how can you talk so.  You have spoiled all our good times together, for I’ll never come in here again when I know you are home,” and she turned her face away from his earnest gaze.

“Oh, yes, you will; you will not be so unkind as that.  If you refuse to come in here I will go into your house just twice as often; so you can’t get rid of me, Dexie,” was the smiling reply.

There was a moment’s silence, when Dexie said:  “It will be a pity for us to quarrel, Lancy, but you must not talk to me like this any more.  Really, I did not think you could be so silly.  Think how they would all tease us if anyone should find us here; and you know Gussie would make my life a misery if she guessed you had been talking such nonsense.”

“It is not ‘nonsense’ to tell you that I love you, but my love shall not be a source of annoyance to you; no one need know it.  Everything will be as usual, only, Dexie, you will know that I love you, and I will know—­well, what, Dexie?  You do not dislike me any more than you did two days ago, do you?” he whispered.

“I have not changed in the least, but I shall dislike you very much, Lancy, if you do not try and forget what has been said here this evening.”

“I cannot forget it even if I wanted to, Dexie.  Do not think that I want to vex you, dear, but I want you to understand me.  Now, there is only one thing more, Dexie,” and his voice grew tender; “that kiss you gave me last night in the sleigh seems to be resting on my lips yet, and has been a sweet memory all day long.  But, Dexie,” and he laughed softly, “you know it was a very cold kiss, after all.  Give me a warm one to take its place, and I’ll let you go.”

Dexie shook her head and tried to draw back from him.  She felt so distressed that the tears were on the point of falling.  She had gone through so much during the last few hours, and this unexpected interview tried her more than Lancy was aware.