Now you've got genius; you'll be a great man some day, quite soon perhaps--you may even become rich as well as famous, and then perhaps you'll be sorry you ever met me----" "In that case I'll call upon the public hangman and ask him to give me a quick despatch," he said promptly; "Though I shouldn't be worth the expense of a rope!" "Angus, you won't be serious!" "Serious?
I never was more serious in my life! And I want my question answered." "What question ?" "Do you love me?
Yes or no!" He held her close and looked her full in the face as he made this peremptory demand.

Her cheeks grew crimson, but she met his searching gaze frankly.
"Ah, though you are a man, you are a spoilt child!" she said.

"You know I love you more than I can say!--and yet you want me to tell you what can never be told!" He caught her to his heart, and kissed her passionately.
"That's enough!" he said--"For if you love me, Mary, your love is love indeed!--it's no sham; and like all true and heavenly things, it will never change.

I believe, if I turned out to be an utter wastrel, you'd love me still!" "Of course I should!" she answered.
"Of course you would!" and he kissed her again.

"Mary, _my_ Mary, if there were more women like you, there would be more men!--men in the real sense of the word--manly men, whose love and reverence for women would make them better and braver in the battle of life.