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 gone ahead in school and play and everything, and learned what you wanted to and then come back—and gotten me. And it always made everything—oh, so much easier for me—and I thought it was a magic scheme that simply couldn’t fail to work. But I’m afraid I’m not quite as smart as I used to be—I can’t seem to catch up with you this time.”

“What do you mean?” said Drew.

She began to fidget with her gloves. “Do you know what month it is?” she asked abruptly.

Why, yes, said Drew, just a bit drearily. It s December. What of it?

Her eyes blurred, but she kept them fixed steadily on her husband. “Why, don t you remember,” she gasped, &quot; “that when we were married I promised you faithfully that I would love you within six months? The six months were up in November—but I find I m not quite ready—yet. You’ll have to give me a little more time,” she pleaded. “You’ll have to renew my love-loan. Will you?”

Drew slammed down his law books and forced his mouth into a grin. “I’d forgotten all about that arrangement,” he said. “Of course I’ll renew what you call your ‘love-loan’. Really and truly I didn’t expect you to love me before a full year was up. Heart-wounds don’t ever even begin to heal until their first anniversaries are passed all the Christmases and birthdays and Easters. And,