"I can't," he exclaimed. "Besides I wanted to walk with you alone. I hadsomething special I wanted to say."

"Bless me, how you frighten one! You look solemn as a hearse; but Ipromised to go with Bill to-night, and I suspect another time will dojust as well. What you have to say will _keep_, I suppose," she exclaimedmischievously.

He turned away quickly.