rtion, having discovered that he loved Agnes,
hesitation vanished. There was no circumlocution about his method at
all. He was impulsive by nature, and, when a purpose was once well
defined in his breast, he was impatient until he had put it into
operation. Thus, without even alluding to the umbrella which he had
ostensibly made the object of his visit, in accounting for it to
himself, he addressed Agnes as follows:

"Miss Agnes, I have scarcely slept all night because of what might
have happened through my carelessness yesterday."

"I do not understand you," said Agnes, and indeed she did not. She
saw, however, that he intended to speak very directly, and was herself
disconcerted.

"I mean the narrow escape which you had from being run over. I should
have had my wits about me, and have prevented you from being in such
danger."

"You saved my life!" she spoke softly, and drooped her head.

"I do not know. But for me it would not have been in need of saving.
But if I did save your life, I know that I preserved what is dearest
in all the world to myself. No! Let me speak, please! I have awakened
from a dream. I have lived in dream-land for many weeks, and I have
not understood. I have been near you, and I have been happy, but in my
stupidity I did not see that it was because of your companionship that
I was happy. In the moment when I was in danger of losing you, I
realized how great the loss would be. Had you died, I must have died
too. Because--because, Agnes, I, I, to whom the idea of love has
always been repellent, I tell you that I love you. I love you with a
species of worship which is enthralling. My whole being, my life, my
soul is all yours. If you do not accept my love, then I have no
further wish to live. Speak! Speak to me! I cannot wait longer. Tell
me that you love me, or--or merely nod your head, and I will go!"

To such wooing as this how could woman answer? She had promised
herself that she would not be ambiguous in speech, but now she learned
that directness was demanded, and though her whole heart yearned for
him, and she pitied the anguish which was born of his anxiety, she
found it hard to say the words, which could not in honor be retracted.
So, for a moment, she was silent, and he misunderstood. He thought
that her hesitation was born of sympathy for him, and that she did not
speak because she feared to cause him pain by refusing him. He felt a
piercing throb of agony cross his heart, and his