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All day long I didn't dare to go near her Toward evening as I was sitting in reenery of her balcony "Why don't you come up?" he called down iain I knocked very lightly She didn't say come-in, but opened the door herself, and stood on the threshold

"Where is my slipper?"

"It is--I have--I want," I staether, and chat"

When I returned, she was engaged intea I ceremoniously placed the slipper on the table, and stood in the corner like a child awaiting punishhtly contracted, and there was an expression of hardness and dohted

"So--you are really in love--with ine?"

"You suffer?" she laughed again

I was revolted, mortified, annihilated, but all this was quite useless

"Why?" she continued, "I like you, with all ave me her hand, and looked at me in the friendliest fashion

"And will you be my wife?"

Wanda looked at me--how did she look at e of irony

"What has given you so e, to ask anyone to be your wife, and h a sudden friendship with this? But joking aside Do you really wish to marry me?"

"Yes"

"Well, Severin, that is a serious matter I believe, you love me, and I care for you too, and what isThere is no danger that ould soon get bored, but, you know, I ae seriously If I assuations, I want to be able to meet them But I am afraid--no--it would hurt you"

"Please be perfectly frank with me," I replied

"Well then honestly, I don't believe I could love a racefully to one side and ine--a month perhaps"

"Not even me?"