Finally, they came to the point where John would turn and go his way. “Well,” he said, “it’s been five months since we came here on the Dolphin. It has turned out well for you, Kit: a fine big house and a good young man like William. I hope you will be very happy.”

Kit turned red and looked down. She did not want to talk about William. “And you, John?” she asked instead. “Are you going to the corn party tonight?”

“Well,” he answered. “We’ll see. I don’t know. Will Mercy be there?”

“Mercy? No, I don’t think so. It’s too far away.”

“Then I think I’ll spend the evening at your house instead. I seldom have a chance to talk to her.”

Slowly Kit began to understand what he had just said. “Why should you want to talk to Mercy?”

His smiled, “Why do you think I come so often? It has always been Mercy, from the very beginning. Didn’t you guess that? Do you think I have a chance, Kit?”

“Oh, John!” Kit cried. “A chance? I’m so happy for you two!”

“But I have nothing to give her, nothing at all.”

“You’ll have your own church some day. Only there are so many things that Mercy can’t do…”

“Then I will do them for her,” he said quietly. “I don’t want a wife to serve me. For Mercy I could never do enough.”

“Then tell her, tonight, John,” she said, remembering Mercy’s shining eyes.

“Well,” he answered again. “We’ll see.”

Walking home Kit could hardly keep from dancing. She wanted to shout and sing. Mercy and John Holbrook! How right! How unbelievably right! Suddenly, she stopped. How could she have forgotten about Judith? What has she been planning for tonight? Well, if John doesn’t go to the corn party – then nothing can happen. And what if he’s there with Mercy? Maybe Kit should warn Judith? Oh, dear, Judith is going to feel terrible! But Kit knew that John wasn’t really suitable for Judith.

That evening Judith looked lovely in her new blue dress. Kit was becoming impatient: they all had to leave quickly and leave Mercy sitting alone near the fireplace before John arrived.

But they were too late, as at that moment John Holbrook walked in through the door. Judith smiled at him.

“I’m so glad you’ve come,” she said. “Now we can all walk together.”

“I’m not going to the corn party,” John shook his head. “I think I’ll stay here with Mercy instead. There is something I want to speak to your father about.”

After his words Judith turned red. “Tonight? Really?” she whispered in joy and disbelief. “Oh, Father!” she cried. “You know what he wants to ask! Say yes, now, so we can go to the party together!”

Matthew Wood was shocked. “My daughter, what sort of talk is this?”

“Oh, Father, you must have guessed. John doesn’t need to tell you.”

Matthew Wood’s face softened, and when he turned to John he was smiling, “If you have agreed between you, then I can only give you my blessing. Perhaps you can teach this girl some manners.”

John stood silent, his face pale. He was so ashamed that he couldn’t say a word.

“Tell them! You’ve got to say something, John, right now!” Kit begged him silently.

John opened his mouth to say something to correct the mistake. Then, he looked at Judith. She seemed so happy that John stopped himself. Everyone in the room started congratulating him. Even Mercy came up slowly. “I am so glad for you both,” she said warmly. Only Kit could say nothing. Maybe she dreamed it all, she thought, watching Mercy. But she knew she had not dreamed the love in Mercy’s eyes that summer evening.

When the four of them went out together into the twilight, Judith took John’s arm. “You’ll never know,” she whispered. “You saved me, John. I had a plan…”

Kit was walking behind them, thinking. Now what? He can’t do this! But she knew that he could. John understood Mercy very well. He knew that never in her life could she take anything that Judith might want. If John hurt Judith now, Mercy would never forgive either him or herself.

Kit’s thoughts were suddenly interrupted by William who stopped her on the way. “Wait a moment, Kit,” he said. “Let them go ahead. I want to talk to you.” His quiet voice and the look in his eyes warned her of what was coming. Oh, no! Not after all that has happened! She wanted to run away and hide. William’s question was not unexpected at all. Kit had thought that her answer was ready, but now she realized that it wasn’t. “Not tonight, please,” Kit whispered in panic.

“I didn’t plan to speak tonight,” William explained. “But just look at those two – they are so happy! Let me speak to your uncle.”

“Please, William,” Kit whispered. “Don’t speak to him yet.”

William looked at her, puzzled. “Why not? Don’t you want to marry me, Kit?”

She paused. “I hadn’t thought of getting married so soon.”

William was silent for a moment. “I won’t hurry you, Kit,” he said calmly. “The house won’t be finished before spring, anyway. I’ll wait for your answer.” Obviously, he was sure of her positive answer. As they walked on to the party, he held her hand.