And we must wait till the household be at rest, and we share the same bed, ere I dare to pour into thine ears all the tale.

And thou must promise to breathe no word of it, bad nor good, till the moment has come for the world to know.

It will not be long now, I trow; but we are pledged, and were it not that I know well thou art stanch and true, I dared not have shared the joyful secret with thee." "It is safe with me," cried Kate; "I will never betray it.

O Ellen, how I long to hear the whole! But since that may not be now, tell me more of these great aunts of ours.

What treatment am I to look for beneath their roof?
Am I to be received as kinswoman or as prisoner?
for marry I know not myself." Petronella's face kindled into smiles, those bright happy smiles that gave it a charm never seen in past days.