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"But this was just what I wanted, to find you alone," he began,

not sitting down, and not looking at her, so as not to lose

courage.

"Mamma will be down directly. She was very much tired....

Yesterday...."

She talked on, not knowing what her lips were uttering, and not

taking her supplicating and caressing eyes off him.

He glanced at her; she blushed, and ceased speaking.

"I told you I did not know whether I should be here long ... that

it depended on you...."

She dropped her head lower and lower, not knowing herself what

answer she should make to what was coming.

"That it depended on you," he repeated. "I meant to say ... I

meant to say ... I came for this ... to be my wife!" he brought

out, not knowing what he was saying; but feeling that the most

terrible thing was said, he stopped short and looked at her....