her from another; from him it touched her to find
how closely and kindly he had watched her.

'I cannot help it,' she said. 'He was my all.'

'Have you striven with it?'

'Of course I have. I have lived in a tumult of occupation, but--'

'But you have not conquered yourself, and grappled with the serpents
that poison your life.'

'Pray what do you call those serpents?'

'If you look them in the face, I believe you will find they are pride
and jealousy.'

'You like to find generic names,' said Theodora, trying for a cold
smile.

'Because it is safer to know and crush a venomous beast than to dally
with it.'

'If I find there are such serpents, I will crush them and thank you.'

'No other woman would so have answered,' cried Percy, exultingly.

'Because,' said she, her throat swelling, 'no other man is true and
downright friend enough to warn me honestly.'

'Theodora, Theodora, you are a grand creature, nearly thrown away for
want of breaking in.'

'Too true,' said she, sadly.

'I must say it. Will you let me? Will you trust yourself and your
happiness to me? It has been the vision and hope of my solitude to see
you what you might be! the flaws in that noble nature corrected, its
grandeur and devotedness shining forth undimmed. Together we would crush
the serpents--bring out all that is excellent.'

'I think there might be a chance for me with you,' said she, in an odd
sort of tone.

'You mean it?' he exclaimed, trying to see her face, but her hood
flapped over it.

'I do. You appreciate me.'

She let him walk beside her, and hold the umbrella over her; but not
a word was spoken till they were ascending the steps, when she said,
'Don't tell papa till night. I do not choose to look foolish.'

'Good luck to thee, umbrella!' said Percy, holding it on high, ere
closing it. 'Thy sea-green dome has been a canopy of bliss. Honour to
thy whalebones!' Then, in a very different manner, 'Oh! Theodora, could
you but guess how you have mingled in every scheme or wish of mine; how
often I have laughed myself to scorn for dreaming, as if there could be
any chance!'

'Ah! what an uproar my aunt will make!' exclaimed Theodora, somewhat
exultingly. Some one crossed the hall, and she ran away, but stepped
back from the foot of the stairs, laid her hand on his arm, and with a
face inexpressibly sweet and brilliant, said, 'We shall get on very well
together. We need have no nonsense. But I did not know how happy you