ressure had
come, I believe it would have killed him. If you had seen the misery of
those days!'

'And now,' continued Percy, 'poor Arthur is most anxious it should be
paid; but I ought not to consent. If he were to sell out now, he would
be almost destitute. I have persuaded him to let all rest in silence
till John comes.'

'I am glad you have,' said Theodora. 'I am afraid papa is a good deal
pressed for money. The rents have had to be reduced; and John wants all
the Barbuda income to spend on the estate there. Even before the fire,
papa talked of bringing John home to cut off the entail, and sell some
land; and the house was insured far short of its value. He wants to get
rid of Armstrong and all the finery of the garden; but he is afraid of
vexing mamma, and in the meantime he is very glad that we are living
more cheaply in the cottage. I really do not think he could conveniently
pay such a sum; and just at present, too, I had rather poor Arthur's
faults were not brought before him.'

'It comes to this, then;--Is it for your happiness to enter upon an
indefinite engagement, and wait for the chance of my working myself up
into such a competency as may make our marriage not too imprudent? It
cannot, as far as I can see, be for years; it may be never.'

'When I thought you would not have me, I meant to be an old maid,' said
Theodora; 'and, Percy, this time you shall not think I do not care
for you. If we have to wait for our whole lives, let it be with the
knowledge that we belong to each other. I could not give up that now,
and'--as he pressed her hand--'mind, I am old enough to be trusted to
choose poverty. I know I can live on a little: I trust to you to tell me
whenever there is enough.'

'And your father?'

'He will not object--he will rejoice. The way I regarded that dear
father was one of the worst sins of that time! It is better it should be
as it is. Mamma could not well do without me now; I should be in doubt
about leaving her, even if the rest were plain. So that is trouble
saved,' she added with a smile.

'If they will see it in the same light! If they will forgive as readily
as you do one of the greatest injuries to a young lady.'

'Hush--nonsense. Papa always considered that it served me right.
And really this is such perfect content, that I do not know how to
understand it. You had always the power of reconciliation in your hands;
but, you know, I had not; and, apart from all other feelings, the