"No!" she cried. "No! don't mention his name, please! I don't
want to hear his name again just now."
"For my part," Somerfield said bitterly, "I never want to hear it
again as long as I live!"
There was a short silence. Suddenly she turned towards him.
"Charlie," she said, "you have asked me to marry you six times."
"Seven," he corrected. "I ask you again now--that makes eight."
"Very well," she answered, "I accept--on one condition."
"On any," he exclaimed, his voice trembling with joy. "Penelope,
it sounds too good to be true. You can't be in earnest."
"I am," she declared. "I will marry you if you will see that our
engagement is announced everywhere tomorrow, and that you do not
ask me for anything at all, mind, not even--not anything--for
three months' time, at least. Promise that until then you will
not let me hear the sound of the word marriage?"
"I promise," he said firmly. "Penelope, you mean it? You mean
this seriously?"
She gave him her hands and a very sad little smile.
"I mean it, Charlie," she answered. "I will keep my word."
CHAPTER XV. PENELOPE EXPLAINS
Once more Penelope found herself in the library of the great
house in Park Lane, where Mr. Blaine-Harvey presided over the
interests of his country. This time she came as an uninvited,
even an unexpected guest. The Ambassador, indeed, had been
fetched away by her urgent message from the reception rooms,
where his wife was entertaining a stream of callers.
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