Again she protested.  “Oh, Crawford,” she begged, “please!”

“No; you’ve got to hear me.  It’s true; I love you, and if you can care for me, I am going to marry you.  Not now, of course; I’ve got my way to make first; but some day, if I live.”

His teeth set in the determined fashion she had learned to know meant unswerving purpose.  She looked up, saw the expression of his face, and for the instant forgot everything except her pride in him and her joy that she should have awakened such feelings.  Then she remembered other things, things which she had spent many hours of many nights in debating and considering.  As he bent toward her she evaded him and rose.

“Don’t, Crawford!  Please!” she said again.  “You mustn’t say such things to me.  It isn’t right that you should.”

He looked puzzled.  “Why not?” he asked.  “At any rate, right or wrong, I must say them, Mary.  I’ve been holding them in for months and now I’ve just got to say them.  I love you and I want to marry you.  May I?”

“Oh, no, Crawford!  No!  It is impossible.”

“Impossible!  Why?  Is it—­is it because you don’t care for me?  Don’t you, Mary?”

She did not answer.

“Don’t you?” he repeated.  “Look at me!  Can’t you care, Mary?”

She was silent.  But when he took a step toward her she raised her hands in protest.

“Please don’t!” she pleaded.  “No, you mustn’t—­we mustn’t think—­Oh, no, it is impossible!”

“It isn’t impossible.  If you love me as I do you it is the only possible thing in the world.  Listen, dear—­”

“Hush!  I mustn’t listen.  Be sensible, Crawford! think!  We are both so young.  You are only beginning your studies.  It will be years before you can—­before you should consider marrying.”

“But we can wait.  I am willing to wait if you will only promise to wait for me.  I’ll work—­how I’ll work!—­and—­”

“I know, but we both have others besides ourselves to consider.  I have my uncles.  They have done everything for me.  And you have your father.  Does he know—­about me—­about what you have just said to me?”

And now Crawford hesitated.  Not long, but long enough for Mary to know what the answer would be before it was spoken.

“He doesn’t know,” she said.  “I thought not.  Do you think he will approve?”

“I hope he will.  There is every reason why he should and absolutely none why he shouldn’t.  Of course he’ll approve; he’s sensible.”

“Yes, but he may have plans of his own for you, and your marrying an Eastern girl may not be one of them.  You have often told me how prejudiced he is against the East and Eastern people.  He may disapprove strongly.”

Crawford squared his shoulders.  There was no hesitation or doubt in his next speech.

“If he does it will make no difference,” he declared.  “I care a whole lot for Dad and I’d do anything on earth for him—­anything but the one thing, that is:  I won’t give you up—­provided you care for me—­for him or for anyone else.  That’s final.”