JAMIE. What made it?
HILDA. You know what....
JAMIE No, I don"t; tell me. What?
HILDA [_with tender impatience_]. Why you, of course, foolish--because we were together, and all that....
JAMIE. Oh!
HILDA. Now, what did you say "oh" for?
JAMIE. I don"t know--because I"m glad you enjoyed the day, I guess.
HILDA. Did you want me to enjoy it--very much?
JAMIE. Of course I did, dear; I want you to be happy all the time---- We are going to be happy always, aren"t we?
HILDA. Are we?
JAMIE. Aren"t we?
HILDA [_tenderly_]. Y-e-s---- [_Their lips are very close. The moon rushes behind a cloud._] There! Now you"ve shocked the man in the moon!
JAMIE. I guess he"s used to it. I wish I had a dollar for all the times he"s seen that!
HILDA. And just think! There isn"t a soul he can talk to about it!
JAMIE. Maybe he tells Mars; you don"t know.
HILDA. Oh, Jamie, you ought to take course one in astronomy! Mars and the moon are miles and miles apart!
JAMIE. Are they?
HILDA [_tapping his hand_]. Yes, and you ought to know it.
JAMIE. But I don"t know as much as you do, dearie.
HILDA. That"s a very pretty speech, but you do, all the same. Sometimes I think you know just a little bit more.
JAMIE. Well, I don"t; besides, how could I? You"re working for Ph. B., and I"ll only get a cheap old B. L.
HILDA. That"s your own fault. You could have selected Ph. B. Herbert did.
JAMIE. But Herbert knows more than I do, too. [_He grins, away from her._]
HILDA. Why, Jamie, he doesn"t either! He doesn"t know _anything_ but botany. I"m glad you aren"t an old prosy botanist.
JAMIE. Maybe I"m not a very good botanist, but I"ve prided myself on my taste in flowers----
HILDA. Now what makes you say that? You don"t know a cowslip from a hollyhock!
JAMIE. Maybe not, but I fell in love with you, didn"t I?
HILDA [_snuggling very close_]. Dearest! [_Again the modest man in the moon hides his face behind a cloud._]
JAMIE [_reminiscently_]. Do you remember what happened a month ago to-night?
HILDA [_softly_]. Of course I do.
JAMIE. What?
HILDA [_more softly_]. You proposed.
JAMIE [_stroking her hair_]. Where?
HILDA. Why, where we were to-day--at Whitmore--in Mr. Stevens"
sail-boat.
JAMIE. Yes, that"s so. I thought maybe you"d forgotten....
HILDA [_drawing back_]. Jamie! Forget! Never! Why that"s the greatest thing that ever comes into a girl"s life! Forget it? How could you!
JAMIE. And you"re just the same?
HILDA [_her head against his shoulder again_]. Always!
JAMIE. The old lake looked somewhat different to-day, didn"t it; so many of the cottages open, and such a crowd around?
HILDA. Yes, but it wasn"t so nice as it was that day. I thought there were just a few too many around to-day, didn"t you?
JAMIE. Yes--once--or--twice----
HILDA. Why?
JAMIE. Oh, because I wanted to walk on and on alone with you--just you.
I wanted to talk to you as we"re talking now, but I couldn"t with so many folks everywhere. But I had my chance when we started for home. I looked for interference; that"s why I suggested separate carriages.
HILDA [_indifferently_]. I knew it.
JAMIE. You did? Now that shows you know more than I do. I didn"t think you"d understand.
HILDA. Did you really think me as dense as all that?
JAMIE. I"m afraid I did. But I shan"t again. I shall tell you everything, hereafter. I find I might as well.
HILDA [_earnestly_]. Yes, you might, just exactly as well, for I shall know, anyway.
JAMIE. I wonder if they had a good time.