“Laura, I tell you what. I’ll make a bargain with you.”

She looked up as he hesitated. Jadwin sat down at the table opposite her and leaned forward upon his folded arms.

“Do you know,” he began, “I happened to think⁠—Well, here’s what I mean,” he suddenly declared decisively. “Do you know, Laura, that ever since we’ve been engaged you’ve never⁠—Well, you’ve never⁠—never kissed me of your own accord. It’s foolish to talk that way now, isn’t it? But, by George! That would be⁠—would be such a wonderful thing for me. I know,” he hastened to add, “I know, Laura, you aren’t demonstrative. I ought not to expect, maybe, that you⁠—Well, maybe it isn’t much. But I was thinking a while ago that there wouldn’t be a sweeter thing imaginable for me than if my own girl would come up to me some time⁠—when I wasn’t thinking⁠—and of her own accord put her two arms around me and kiss me. And⁠—well, I was thinking about it, and⁠—” He hesitated again, then finished abruptly with, “And it occurred to me that you never had.”