"My dearest," he said, advancing across the room, and before she knew how to stop herself or him, he had taken her in his arms and kissed her.
He did not immediately begin about the letter, but placed her upon the sofa, seating himself by her side, and looked into her face with loving eyes,--not as though to scrutinize what might be amiss there, but as though determined to enjoy to the full his privilege as a lover.

There was no reproach at any rate in his countenance;--none as yet; nor did it seem that he thought that he had any cause for fear.
They sat in this way for a moment or two in silence, and during those moments Alice was summoning up her courage to speak.

The palpitation at her heart was already gone, and she was determined that she would speak.
"Though I am very glad to see you," she said, at last, "I am sorry that my letter should have given you the trouble of this journey." "Trouble!" he said.

"Nay, you ought to know that it is no trouble.

I have not enough to do down at Nethercoats to make the running up to you at any time an unpleasant excitement.