You see, I love you." There was silence for one long moment.

It was so still they could hear the bubbling of the spring, like a soft voice, complaining in the darkness.

Then Lois said, under her breath, "Oh, Gifford!" "Yes, I do," he went on, desperately.

"I know you've never thought of such a thing; somehow, I could not seem to make you see it,--you wouldn't see it; but I do love you, and--and, Lois--if you could care, just a little?
I've loved you so long." Lois shrank back against the silver-poplar tree, and put her hands up to her face.

In a moment tenderness made the young man forget his anxiety.
"Did I startle you ?" he said, sitting down beside her; but he did not take her hand, as he might have done in their old frank friendship.