"Well, he 's safe out of the way now, thank heaven," said Bell. "That 's one good thing. And you 've got to make up your mind about Tom."
"Well, why does n't he make me?" said Susan.
"Susan Lawton," said Bell, "you ought to know Tom better. He knows that you know that he is ready and longing to make you his wife at any hour, and he will never urge you,—not if you keep him waiting on and on till you are both gray."
"I wonder," said Susan.
"No," replied Bell, "he never will. He 's as obstinate as a rock, and more than that, he does n't want you for his wife till you want him for your husband. Tom is proud as Lucifer in his heart."
"But, Bell," pleaded Susan, "I can't go to Tom and say, 'please take me.' He had a good chance a few days ago when he first told me you were going to marry Fred, and all he said was: 'All right, Sue, all right,'" and Susan laughed in spite of herself at the recollection.
Bell laughed too, but she was vexed and anxious to see two people at such cross-purposes. Her own wooing and winning had been so smooth, so entirely in accordance with the conventional usages and customs, that she sympathized freely in Susan's position.
"I should n't like it myself," thought Bell. "I should never stand it if Fred treated me that way. But I know Fred would n't really do any more for
