d you be so cool and short with me when you loved me all the
time?" he asked, as he held her in his arms.

"I was not quite sure you cared for me," was the low reply. "But I am
forgetting papa. I must go and see if he is all right, Guy."

It was the first time she had used his name, and he smiled fondly into the
dark eyes raised so shyly to meet his own.

"I do not want to let you go from my arms for a minute, darling. I have
been longing for this hour for so long that I am afraid I shall find it all
a dream if I once let you go. Will you come back to me if all is
right--back to my arms, I mean?"

"Perhaps--yes, then," and she stepped softly into her father's room.

But it needed only a few minutes to assure her that he was sleeping soundly
and peacefully, so she returned to her waiting lover.

"Not beside me, but here, where you promised!" and he held out his arms as
she endeavored to take a seat on the sofa beside him. "I wonder how long it
will be before you will make my heart glad by coming to my arms of your own
accord. It is hard to believe that this is the same little girl that used
to send me home with such an aching heart that I walked the floor for
hours, instead of going to bed."

"Oh, Guy! I am so sorry. I never thought you cared for me like that," she
whispered, as she laid her head on his shoulder.

"I wish I could tell you how much I _do_ care, my own darling! but words
give so little expression to one's feelings; yet I am longing to hear just
three little words from you. Don't you think it would be fair to take away
the memory of your unkind words by telling me that you love me?"

"Dear Guy, you know I love you, or I would not be here! I have loved you
ever since papa was hurt, but I did not want you to know it. Will that
confession do?"

"I knew you cared for me, my darling! yet it is sweet to hear the admission
from your own lips. And to think how long we have misunderstood each other!
If I had only taken you in my arms that first night I was present when your
father was so ill, and made you own to what I felt was true, these unhappy
weeks might have been spared us; but it is something to have this joy in
the end, my own little wife."

Dexie gave a little start of surprise at this sweet epithet, and a rosy
blush spread over her face, at which Guy repeated lovingly:

"My own little wife! Is it not so, Dexie?"

"I had not thought of the future, so much has happened in such a short
time," sh