“In that belief you are safe companion for my first disciple,” he returned, humoring her jest.  The crowd carried them on.

“I believe that, too,” Harlan murmured.

“Universal salvation according to the new political creed?”

“I’m not thinking about politics.  I’m not thinking much about anything else just now except you.  During the Governor’s address it came over me suddenly what wise counsel you gave me.  If I had you for an adviser all the rest of my life I could amount to more in the world than I ever can without you.”

She glanced at him sharply.

“I mean that,” he insisted.  “Will you be my adviser for the rest of my life?”

It was crude, blunt, and sudden proposal.  The throngs were eddying about them.  They were jostled at the moment by the Toms, Dicks, and Harrys of the legislative concourse.  Curious eyes surveyed them.  Ears were near by.

“I can’t help saying it here and now,” he rushed on.  “I—­”

“My dear Harlan, you don’t mean to say that you are proposing to me here in the face and eyes of this crowd?” She said it with sudden amazed mirth dancing in her eyes, but with a note of satire in her tone.

“I do mean it!” He cried it so loudly that men turned their heads to stare at this earnest young man who was protesting his faith to the handsome daughter of Luke Presson.

“Hush!” she cried, sharply, and then pulled him along.  She spoke low.  “I don’t think you have enough humor in you to realize just what you have done, Harlan.  I have found humor lacking in you.  You have picked out the lobby of the State House, in the middle of the biggest crowd of all the year, as the ‘love’s bower’ for an offer of marriage.  You say you mean it as an offer of marriage.  But what you really did was to ask me to attach myself to you as general adviser.  You can hire a clairvoyant who will do that much for you, and I doubt if you would engage the clairvoyant as publicly as you have just tried to engage me.”

“I understand just what a fool I made of myself,” he muttered, huskily.  “But I couldn’t wait—­and I mean it.”

“No, you don’t realize just how much of a fool you are where women are concerned,” she returned, judicially.  “A woman—­a young woman—­is generally interested in hearing first of all a little about love and devotion and loyalty, all unselfish and uncalculating.  Now be patient!  Listen to me!  A woman can detect real love.  And real love seeks its opportunity sweetly and shyly.  It doesn’t preface itself with remarks about a woman’s brain and advisory ability.  I believe it has a lot to say about eyes and hair and lips and such things.  However, since you admire me in my capacity as adviser, I’ll advise you to be sure that you love a woman before you propose to her, and then when you propose pick out some place that’s suitable for convincing her that you do love her.  I see mother yonder.  Take me to her.”