"Quite right. What a capital guess you made!"

"May I see her?" I ask, coaxingly. "Do let me get just one little peep at her. I am sure she is lovely, from what you say; and I do so like pretty people?"

"You would only be disappointed, and then you would say so, and I could not bear to hear one disparaging word said of my beauty."

"I will _not_ be disappointed. Of course you have had so much experience to guide you--your taste must be better than mine. Please let me see her."

"You promise faithfully not to scorn the face I will show you? You will say no slighting word?"

"I will not indeed. How could you think I would be so rude?"

"Very good." He raises his watch-chain and detaches from it a plain gold locket. I draw near and gaze at it eagerly. What will she be like, this rival of Dora's?

"Now, remember," he says again, while a look of intense amusement crosses his face, "you have promised to admire and say no disparaging word."

"Yes, yes," I answer impatiently; and as he deliberately opens the trinket I lean forward and stare into the large gray-blue eyes of Phyllis Marian Vernon.

Slowly I raise my head and look at my companion. He appears grave now, and rather anxious. I know I am as white as death.

"So you have put _me_ into a locket _too_," I say, in a low tone. "Why?"

"Do not use the word 'too,' Phyllis. You have no rival; I keep no woman's face near me except yours."

"Then it was an untruth you told me about that girl?"

"No, it was not. Will you not try to understand? _You_ are that little girl; it was your face I kissed the other day down by the river. There is no face in the world I hold so dear as yours."

"Then you had no _right_ to kiss it," I break out indignantly, my surprise and bewilderment making me vehement. "I did not give you my picture to put in your locket and treat in that way. How dare you carry me all over the place with you--making things so unpleasant everywhere? And, besides, you are talking very falsely; it is impossible that _any one_ could think me beautiful."

"_I_ do," says he, gently. "I 

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