“Dear sir,” she said, “I pray you come again to visit me tomorrow, while I am mending regimental shirts at tuppence each — — ”

“Lois!” I said sadly. “How can you use me so!”

She began to laugh again.

“Oh, Euan, I can not endure it if you’re solemn and sorry for yourself — — ”

“That is too much!” I exclaimed, furious, and marched out, boiling, under the high stars. And every star o’ them, I think, was laughing at the sorriest ass who ever fell in love.

Nevertheless, that night I wrote her name in my letter to Mr. Hake; and the ink on it was scarce sanded when an Oneida runner