May I--dare I--offer you to return to East Lynne as its mistress ?" She did not comprehend him in the slightest degree: the drift of his meaning never dawned upon her.

"Return to East Lynne as its mistress ?" she repeated, in bewilderment.
"And as my wife ?" No possibility of misunderstanding him now, and the shock and surprise were great.

She had stood there by Mr.Carlyle's side conversing confidentially with him, esteeming him greatly, feeling as if he were her truest friend on earth, clinging to him in her heart as to a powerful haven of refuge, loving him almost as she would a brother, suffering her hand to remain in his.

_But to be his wife!_ the idea had never presented itself to her in any shape until this moment, and her mind's first emotion was one of entire opposition, her first movement to express it, as she essayed to withdraw herself and her hand away from him.
But not so; Mr.Carlyle did not suffer it.

He not only retained that hand, but took the other also, and spoke, now the ice was broken, eloquent words of love.