“How can I?”

“You will come?”

She looked at him, startled.  “You know,” she said, “you must know I would like—­I would love—­”

“You will come?”

“But, dear—!  Dear, if you make me—­”

“Yes!” cried Lewisham triumphantly.  “You will come.”  He glanced round and his voice dropped.  “Oh! my dearest! my dearest!...”

His voice sank to an inaudible whisper.  But his face was eloquent.  Two garrulous, home-going clerks passed opportunely to remind him that his emotions were in a public place.

CHAPTER XX.

THE CAREER IS SUSPENDED.

On the Wednesday afternoon following this—­it was hard upon the botanical examination—­Mr. Lewisham was observed by Smithers in the big Education Library reading in a volume of the British Encyclopaedia.  Beside him were the current Whitaker’s Almanac, an open note-book, a book from the Contemporary Science Series, and the Science and Art Department’s Directory.  Smithers, who had a profound sense of Lewisham’s superiority in the art of obtaining facts of value in examinations, wondered for some minutes what valuable tip for a student in botany might be hidden in Whitaker, and on reaching his lodgings spent some time over the landlady’s copy.  But really Lewisham was not studying botany, but the art of marriage according to the best authorities. (The book from the Contemporary Science Series was Professor Letourneau’s “Evolution of Marriage.”  It was interesting certainly, but of little immediate use.)

From Whitaker Lewisham learnt that it would be possible at a cost of L2, 6s. 1d. or L2, 7s. 1d. (one of the items was ambiguous) to get married within the week—­that charge being exclusive of vails—­at the district registry office.  He did little addition sums in the note-book.  The church fees he found were variable, but for more personal reasons he rejected a marriage at church.  Marriage by certificate at a registrar’s involved an inconvenient delay.  It would have to be L2, 7s. 1d.  Vails—­ten shillings, say.

Afterwards, without needless ostentation, he produced a cheque-book and a deposit-book, and proceeded to further arithmetic.  He found that he was master of L61, 4s. 7d.  Not a hundred as he had said, but a fine big sum—­men have started great businesses on less.  It had been a hundred originally.  Allowing five pounds for the marriage and moving, this would leave about L56.  Plenty.  No provision was made for flowers, carriages, or the honeymoon.  But there would be a typewriter to buy.  Ethel was to do her share....

“It will be a devilish close thing,” said Lewisham with a quite unreasonable exultation.  For, strangely enough, the affair was beginning to take on a flavour of adventure not at all unpleasant.  He leant back in his chair with the note-book closed in his hand....

But there was much to see to that afternoon.  First of all he had to discover the district superintendent registrar, and then to find a lodging whither he should take Ethel—­their lodging, where they were to live together.