"Verity, you shall be married on your eighteenth birthday, and you shall marry me." Then, as the girl shrank from him, and her thin face was covered with a burning blush at these unexpected words, his manner changed and grew very gentle.

"Darling, you need not be afraid of me.

Every hair of your head is sacred to me, for I love you dearly.

I will take such care of you, my little Verity, You will be my child as well as my wife.

You can trust your old friend Amias, can you not ?" and though such an idea had never entered her head, Verity's confidence in him was so great that she actually put her hand in his and promised to marry him.
Never for one moment did she repent her resolution, and before the wedding day arrived she had learned to love him dearly.