In the deep stillness that followed Angus said softly-- "There's not a leaf left on the old sweetbriar bush now!" "No,"-- answered Mary, in the same soft tone--"But it will be the first thing to bud with the spring." "I've kept the little sprig you gave me,"-- he added, apparently by way of a casual after-thought.
"Have you ?" Silence fell again--and not another word passed between them save a gentle "Good-night" when, the New Year having fully come in, they parted.
[Footnote 1: A fact.].