Perhaps she had known this thing before Dalaber spoke the words.

She stood before him, looking very earnestly and tenderly into his eyes.

It was scarcely the look of a young maiden who is being wooed by the man she loves; and yet there was love in that unfaltering glance, and his heart leapt up as he saw it.
"I ask nothing yet, Freda!" he cried--"at least, I ask only the right to love thee! Let me continue to be thy friend, thy companion, as before.

Let me see thee and speak with thee as of old.

Be thou my star and my guardian angel.