“You don’t?”

“No.”

“Will you keep my secret?”

“Yes,” came the eager answer.

“Honor bright?”

“Yes, honor bright.”

“You won’t tell even my mother?”

The girl did not answer.

“Come, promise.”

“I promise.”

“I’ve met a girl I love, and I’ve made you my confidante, but don’t tell my mother.”

Amy had turned desperately pale, and in a pettish, trembling tone, she said: 

“Yes, I will tell your mother.”

“You promised not to do so.”

“I don’t care, I’ll break my promise.”

“Oh, Amy, you are real mean.”

“I can’t help it if I am.”

“You can’t?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I am mad—­real mad.”

“You are?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because you went and fell in love with a girl; it’s ridiculous, anyway.”

“It is?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“You are only a boy.”

“I am?”

“Yes.”

“What are you, pray? you are only a girl.”

“I know it.”

“I couldn’t fall in love with a mere girl, could I?”

“Yes, you could.”

Desmond laughed in a merry manner, and said: 

“Well, to tell the truth, I did fall in love with a mere girl.  Do you want to hear about her?”

“No.”

“You don’t?”

“No, I don’t.”

“I am going to tell you all the same; you are the girl I’ve fallen in love with.”

There came a bright, happy look to Amy’s beautiful face as she said: 

“Oh, you are real mean.”

“I am?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“To tell me that so suddenly.”

“Well, who else do you love?”

“I love you.”

“All right; go and break your promise and tell my mother,” said Desmond in a provoking tone, following his advice by encircling Amy’s waist and imprinting upon her red-hot cheek a kiss.

“You tell your mother yourself,” said Amy.

“No, I won’t; you said you would.”

“Then I will.”

“You will?”

“Yes.”

“Well, well!”

“Your mother will be glad.”

“What?” ejaculated Desmond.

“Your mother will be glad.”

“How do you know?”

“She told me so.”

That night there was a happy party under the old farmhouse roof.  Mrs. Dare had met her son with tears of joy in her eyes, and Desmond had told the weird tale of his remarkable adventures.

At once our hero set to work to prepare for college.  He had talked the matter over with his mother and with Amy, and in due time he did enter Amherst College, and for a long time his adventures ceased.  He heard occasionally from Mr. Brooks, who appeared to be doing well and who sent money on at intervals, but no explanation.  And so the time passed until Desmond graduated and returned home.  He met his mother and Amy, and a moment later there came forth from the house a well-known figure; it was Brooks, the whilom wizard tramp.