VI.

Andrews met Diana quite frequently during the following days. Their meeting always awoke in Andrews the question, “Will she stand the test?”

“I can stand this no longer,” he said one day; “I shall have to settle the matter at once.” He turned to his telephone and calling up Miss Langdon, asked her if she cared for a sail.

“I’ll be down directly,” she replied, and she soon appeared. They boarded the yacht in silence. Neither spoke for a while, then Andrews broke the silence saying, bluntly, “Diana, I love you; I have always loved you. Will you be my wife?”

Miss Langdon was silent for a moment, then she asked, “Why did you act the way you did when you saw my picture?”

“Your answer first,” groaned Andrews.

“I cannot give you my answer today. Come to my uncle’s tomorrow and I will answer then and there. Let’s go back.”

Knowing that it would be useless to argue with her and make her give him her answer immediately, Andrews turned the yacht and started for home.

After landing, he took her to her uncle’s and left her at the gate. She had not asked him to come in, but he had not noticed the omission.

“One who has never been accused of trying to make a man love her, and when she has him in that fix, declare that she only likes him and hopes that they will always be friends,” kept ringing in his ears. Certain it was that since she had met him Diana had tried to make him love her. Would she stand the test?