"What's the matter with me ?" he inwardly demanded.

"My tongue seems to be tied up!--or I'm going to have lockjaw! It's awful! Something better than this has got to come out of me somehow!" And acting on a brilliant flash of inspiration which suddenly seemed to have illumined his brain, he said-- "The fact is, I want to get married.

I'm thinking about it." How quiet she was! She seemed scarcely to breathe.
"Yes ?" and the word, accentuated without surprise and merely as a question, was spoken very gently.

"I do hope you have found some one who loves you with all her heart!" She turned her head away, and Angus saw, or thought he saw, the bright tears brim up from under her lashes and slowly fall.

Without another instant's pause he rushed upon his destiny, and in that rush grew strong.
"Yes, Mary!" he said, and moving to her side he caught her hand in his own--"I dare to think I have found that some one! I believe I have! I believe that a woman whom I love with all my heart, loves me in return! If I am mistaken, then I've lost the whole world! Tell me, Mary! Am I wrong ?" She could not speak,--the tears were thick in her eyes.
"Mary--dear, dearest Mary!" and he pressed the hand he held--"You know I love you!--you know----" She turned her face towards him--a pale, wondering face,--and tried to smile.
"How do I know ?" she murmured tremulously--"How can I believe?
I'm past the time for love!" For all answer he drew her into his arms.
"Ask Love itself about that, Mary!" he said.