But the moonlight still pierced brightly through the little avenue, and she, as she looked up to him, could see the form of his face and the loving softness of his eye.
"Because--," said he; and then he stooped over her and pressed her closely, while she put up her lips to his, standing on tip-toe that she might reach to his face.
"Oh, my love!" she said.

"My love! my love!" As Crosbie walked back to the Great House that night, he made a firm resolution that no consideration of worldly welfare should ever induce him to break his engagement with Lily Dale.

He went somewhat further also, and determined that he would not put off the marriage for more than six or eight months, or, at the most, ten, if he could possibly get his affairs arranged in that time.

To be sure, he must give up everything,--all the aspirations and ambition of his life; but then, as he declared to himself somewhat mournfully, he was prepared to do that.

Such were his resolutions, and, as he thought of them in bed, he came to the conclusion that few men were less selfish than he was.
"But what will they say to us for staying away ?" said Lily, recovering herself.