"Just before you came in he discovered one of my secrets by only looking in my face." He paused, rallied his courage, pushed on at all hazards, and came headlong to the point.

"I wonder," he asked, bluntly, "whether you take after your uncle ?" Blanche instantly understood him.

With time at her disposal, she would have taken him lightly in hand, and led him, by fine gradations, to the object in view.

But in two minutes or less it would be Arnold's turn to play.

"He is going to make me an offer," thought Blanche; "and he has about a minute to do it in.