It was then that Emily raised her eyes from the floor, gently withdrawing her hand at the same time, and fixed them upon his face.

His words had sent her thoughts back to the old time when they were children together, and when, to be within him, was one of her highest pleasures; and, not only that, his words and tones had reached her heart, and awakened therein an echo.
"It is a long time since you went away," said Emily.

"A very long time." "Yes; it is a long time.

But, the weary slow-passing years are ended, and I am back again among early scenes and old friends, and back, I trust, to remain." "How is your mother ?" inquired Emily, after a slight pause.
"I found her much changed--older by twice the number of years that have elapsed since I went away." But all that passed between Andrew Howland and Emily Winters in the hour they spent together at this first meeting, after so long an absence, we cannot write.

For a time, their intercourse was marked by a reserve and embarrassment on the part of Emily; but this insensibly wore off, and, ere the young man went away, their hearts, if not their lips, had spoken to each other almost as freely as in the days of childhood.
Not many months elapsed ere the tender regard that was spontaneously awakened in their bosoms when children, and which had never ceased to exist, led them into a true marriage union, to which no one raised even a whisper of opposition.