“What made you think you were wrong?”

“I felt that I was —­ I knew it.”

“What makes you think you are changed now?”

“I hardly dare speak of it —­ it is so little.”

“You may, I hope, —­ to me.”

“It is hardly I that am changed, so much as my motives and views.”

“And they —­ how?” he said after waiting a moment.

“It seems to me,” she said slowly, “lately, that I am willing to go by a new rule of life from that I used to follow.”

“What is the new rule?”

“Well —­ Not my own will, Mr. Landholm.”

He stood silent a little while.  Her hand was still held in his.  Elizabeth would have thought he had forgotten it, but that it was held in a free clasp which did not seem to imply forgetfulness.  It was enough to forbid it on her part.

“How does the new rule work?” was his next question.

“It works hard, Mr. Landholm!” said Elizabeth, turning her face suddenly upon him for an instant.  His look was bright, but she felt that her own eyes were swimming.

“Do you know that I am very glad to hear all this?” he said after another little pause.

“Yes,” said Elizabeth under breath, —­ “I supposed you would be. —­ I knew you would.”

“I hope you like being catechized,” he said in a lighter tone.

“Yes —­ I do —­ by anybody that has a right to do it.”

“I have taken the right.”

“Certainly! —­ You have the best in the world.”

“I am glad you think so, though I don’t exactly see how you make it out.”

“Why! —­ it’s not necessary to explain how I make it out,” said Elizabeth.

“No, —­ especially as I am going to ask you to give it to me for the future.”

“What?” —­ said she looking at him.

He became grave.

“Miss Haye, I have a great boon to ask of you.”

“Well?” —­ said Elizabeth eagerly.  “I am very glad you have!”

“Why?”

“Why? —­ why, because it’s pleasant.”

“You don’t know what it is, yet.”

“No,” said Elizabeth, —­ “but my words are safe.”

“I want you to give me something.”

“You preface it as if it were some great thing, and you look as if it was nothing,” thought Elizabeth a little in wonderment.  But she said only,

“You may have it.  What is it?”

“Guess.”

“I can’t possibly.”

“You are incautious.  You don’t know what you are giving away.”

“What is it?” said Elizabeth a little impatiently.

“Yourself.”