Let come what might he would ask her to be his wife on some future day, if he did not so ask her now.

For the present, perhaps, he had better be guided by Miss Prettyman.

"Then I will not see her," he said.
"I think that will be the wiser course." "Of course you knew before this that I--loved her ?" "I thought so, Major Grantly." "And that I intended to ask her to be my wife ?" "Well; since you put the question to me so plainly, I must confess that as Grace's friend I should not quite have let things go on as they have gone,--though I am not at all disposed to interfere with any girl whom I believe to be pure and good as I know her to be,--but still I should hardly have been justified in letting things go as they have gone, if I had not believed that such was your purpose." "I wanted to set myself right with you, Miss Prettyman." "You are right with me,--quite right;" and she got up and gave him her hand.

"You are a fine, noble-hearted gentleman, and I hope that our Grace may live to be your happy wife, and the mother of your darling child, and the mother of other children.

I do not see how a woman could have a happier lot in life." "And will you give Grace my love ?" "I will tell her at any rate that you have been here, and that you have inquired after her with the greatest kindness.