I felt more sure of my ground now as I said: "These days, sir, despite all their harrowing anxiety, despite all the pain they held for the girl whom I grew to love more and more with each passing hour, have been the happiest of my life!" He kept silence for a long time; so long that, as I waited for him to speak, with my heart beating, I began to wonder if my frankness had been too effusive.

At last he said: "I suppose it is hard to say so much vicariously.

Her poor mother should have heard you; it would have made her heart glad!" Then a shadow swept across his face; and he went on more hurriedly.
"But are you quite sure of all this ?" "I know my own heart, sir; or, at least, I think I do!" "No! no!" he answered, "I don't mean you.

That is all right! But you spoke of my girl's affection for me ...

and yet...! And yet she has been living here, in my house, a whole year...