"I do, for when Altair stooped to kiss me--"
"Stop!" she cried out, sharply; "you go too far!"
"Leo!" he called, and his voice checked her as quickly as if he had caught her by the arm. "I am not joking; I am very serious. You must remember that I have lost both my mother and Altair--you alone remain--I can't afford to lose you. You are all I have now. Don't be angry with me."
She considered him with a return to pity. "Forgive me," she hurriedly retracted. "I am very sorry for you, and I don't want to seem unfriendly; but it is only a week since we met. What can you know of me in so short a time?"
"I loved you the moment you came into my mother's room."
"I did not like the way you treated me; but I never hated you. I was afraid of you."
"If your mother can hear you say that, she is certainly smiling, for she knows you are not afraid of anybody. You're a very stiff-necked person."
"I know you have a right to laugh at me; but I believe our 'guides' have brought us together. I need you--now--and if I dared I'd ask you to wear this." He disclosed a ring in his hand.
She looked at it narrowly. "I know that ring; it was your mother's. She kept it in a little velvet box together with an old-fashioned locket."
"Yes, it is hers. It isn't very grand, compared with your own, but I wish you'd put it on and consider it my promissory note."
"Yes, I promise to buy it back with all the money you have lost through my mother's advice. Will you wear it for me?"
"Where do you expect to find so much money?"
"Right here, in this great city. Mr. Bartol is to take me into his office. He's like a father to me already; but I don't expect him to give me anything. I'm going to work, and I'm going to pay you back the money you have lost."
Extending her little finger, she took the ring daintily on its tip. "All that sounds very romantic; and yet young men do win wealth and fame right here--and why not you?"
"That's just it. I may be the future monopolizer of air-ships--" The maid, appearing at the moment, announced that a lady wished to see Mr. Ollnee.
"No, sir; but she said she was a relative, sir."
"Don't go!" pleaded Victor. "My visitor can wait. You haven't said whether you will wear my ring or not. I don't know how long it may be before I can 'make good,' but it will help mightily to know that you are expecting me to do so."