Trumble began to laugh.  “This is funny:  you trying to talk business!  So Corliss has been telling you about it?”

“Yes, he has; and I understand it perfectly.  I think there’s an enormous fortune in it, and you’d better not laugh at me:  a woman’s instinct about such things is better than a man’s experience sometimes.”

“You’ll find neither Lindley nor your father are going to think so,” he returned skeptically.

She gave him a deep, sweet look.  “But I mustn’t be disappointed in you,” she said, with the suggestion of a tremor in her voice, “whatever they do!  You’ll take my advice, won’t you—­Wade?”

“I’ll take your advice in anything but business.”  He shook his head ominously.

“And wouldn’t you take my advice in business,”—­she asked very slowly and significantly—­“under any circumstances?”

“You mean,” he said huskily, “if you were my wife?”

She looked away, and slightly inclined her head.  “No,” he answered doggedly, “I wouldn’t.  You know mighty well that’s what I want you to be, and I’d give my soul for the tip of your shoe, but business is an entirely different matter, and I——­”

“Wade!” she said, with wonderful and thrilling sweetness.  They had reached the church; Hedrick and his father had entered; Mrs. Madison and Laura were waiting on the steps.  Cora and Trumble came to a stop some yards away.  “Wade, I—­I want you to go into this.”

“Can’t do it,” he said stubbornly.  “If you ever make up your mind to marry me, I’ll spend all the money you like on you, but you’ll have to keep to the woman’s side of the house.”

“You make it pretty hard for me to be nice to you,” she returned, and the tremor now more evident in her voice was perfectly genuine.  “You positively refuse to do this—­for me?”

“Yes I do.  I wouldn’t buy sight-unseen to please God ’lmighty, Cora Madison.”  He looked at her shrewdly, struck by a sudden thought.  “Did Corliss ask you to try and get me in?”

“He did not,” she responded, icily.  “Your refusal is final?”

“Certainly!” He struck the pavement a smart rap with his walking-stick.  “By George, I believe he did ask you!  That spoils church for me this morning; I’ll not go in.  When you quit playing games, let me know.  You needn’t try to work me any more, because I won’t stand for it, but if you ever get tired of playing, come and tell me so.”  He uttered a bark of rueful laughter.  “Ha!  I must say that gentleman has an interesting way of combining business with pleasure!”

Under favourable circumstances the blow Cora dealt him might have been physically more violent.  “Good-morning,” she laughed, gayly.  “I’m not bothering much about Mr. Corliss’s oil in Italy.  I had a bet with Laura I could keep you from saying `I beg to differ,’ or talking about the weather for five minutes.  She’ll have to pay me!”

Then, still laughing, she lowered her parasol, and with superb impudence, brushed it smartly across his face; turned on her heel, and, red with fury, joined her mother and sister, and went into the church.