been such sweet ones written. At last I looked
for them more anxiously than Faith.'

'You see, you knew me before.' Picotee would have withdrawn this remark
if she could, fearing that it seemed like a suggestion of her love long
ago.

'Then, on my return, I thought I would just call and see you, and go away
and think what would be best for me to do with a view to the future. But
since I have been here I have felt that I could not go away to think
without first asking you what you think on one point--whether you could
ever marry me?'

'I thought you would ask that when I first saw you.'

'Did you. Why?'

'You looked at me as if you would.'

'Well,' continued Christopher, 'the worst of it is I am as poor as Job.
Faith and I have three hundred a year between us, but only half is mine.
So that before I get your promise I must let your father know how poor I
am. Besides what I mention, I have only my earnings by music. But I am
to be installed as chief organist at Melchester soon, instead of deputy,
as I used to be; which is something.'

'I am to have five hundred pounds when I marry. That was Lord
Mountclere's arrangement with Ethelberta. He is extremely anxious that I
should marry well.'

'That's unfortunate. A marriage with me will hardly be considered well.'

'O yes, it will,' said Picotee quickly, and then looked frightened.

Christopher drew her towards him, and imprinted a kiss upon her cheek, at
which Picotee was not so wretched as she had been some years before when
he mistook her for another in that performance.

'Berta will never let us come to want,' she said, with vivacity, when she
had recovered. 'She always gives me what is necessary.'

'We will endeavour not to trouble her,' said Christopher, amused by
Picotee's utter dependence now as ever upon her sister, as upon an
eternal Providence. 'However, it is well to be kin to a coach though you
never ride in it. Now, shall we go indoors to your father? You think he
will not object?'

'I think he will be very glad,' replied Picotee. 'Berta will, I know.'

***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HAND OF ETHELBERTA***

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