How well I remember it! We joined in for a few turns; and, as I clasped my arm round her darling waist, feeling her warm heart beating against mine, I longed to clasp her so always, and waltz on for ever! In a little while we rested; and, getting her to walk out on to the canopied balcony through the French windows of the drawing-room, I there said my say to her, amidst the waving ferns and showy azaleas that surrounded us.
We had the place all to ourselves; for, as it was now early in the morning, most of the guests had already gone:--the indefatigables who remained were too busily engaged to mind us.

They were making the most of the last waltz, which was protracted to an indefinite length.
"Min, my darling,"-- said I, after a brief pause, looking straight down into her honest, upturned face,--"will you promise to be my wife, or no ?" "O-oh, Frank!" she murmured, bending her head down without another word.
"Darling!"-- I continued.--"You know full well that I love you; and I've thought, dearest, that you loved me a little ?" "Hush! Do not speak so, dear Frank; you grieve me so," she said.
"Have you forgotten all the past then, Min?
Don't you remember last year, and all that happened then ?"--I asked.
"I remember, Frank," she whispered, rather than spoke.
"And do you not love me still, darling ?" I pleaded:--"Look up into my face, and let me see your eyes:--_they_ won't deceive me, I know!" But, the dear, grey eyes would not meet mine.
"Oh, Min, my darling!" I asked again, pressing her closely to my heart, "will you not promise to be my wife?
Sweet, I love you so!" "They are looking at us, Frank,"-- was her rejoinder--"let us waltz on." We had some more turns, "Mabel" still dominant in the orchestra.

O that air! I can hear it now, as I heard it then, ringing yet in my ears--as it will continue always to haunt me! When we stopped again, I repeated my question once more.

I was determined to have an answer, good or bad.
"Frank," she said, hurriedly, "I cannot say anything; I have promised:-- I have promised.

Pray, do not ask me!" She spoke with great agitation.