We will take to-day to think of it, Magdalen; and to-morrow you shall know, and Frank shall know, what we decide." Her eyes brightened, as they looked into his face and saw the decision there already, with the double penetration of her womanhood and her love.

Happy, and beautiful in her happiness, she put his hand to her lips, and went, without hesitation, into the morning-room.

There, her father's words had smoothed the way for her; there, the first shock of the surprise was past and over, and only the pleasure of it remained.
Her mother had been her age once; her mother would know how fond she was of Frank.

So the coming interview was anticipated in her thoughts; and--except that there was an unaccountable appearance of restraint in Mrs.Vanstone's first reception of her--was anticipated aright.

After a little, the mother's questions came more and more unreservedly from the sweet, unforgotten experience of the mother's heart.