l that a man
could wish in the future partner of his life. An innocent trustfulness in
his superior judgment, a childlike submission to his will which Marian
displayed upon all occasions, were alike flattering and delightful. Nor
did she ever appear to grow tired of that talk of their future which was
so pleasant to her lover. There was no shadow of doubt upon her face when
he spoke of the serene happiness which they two were to find in an
existence spent together. He was the first who had ever spoken to her of
these things, and she listened to him with an utter simplicity and
freshness of mind.

Time had reconciled Isabella Lister to her brother's choice, and she now
deigned to smile upon the lovers, very much to Gilbert's satisfaction. He
had been too proud to supplicate her good graces; but he was pleased that
his only sister should show herself gracious and affectionate to the girl
he loved so fondly. During this second visit of his, therefore, Marian
came very often to Lidford House; sometimes accompanied by her uncle,
sometimes alone; and there was perfect harmony between the elder and
younger lady.

The partridges upon Martin Lister's estate did not suffer much damage
from his brother-in-law's gun that autumn. Gilbert found it a great deal
pleasanter to spend his mornings dawdling in the little cottage
drawing-room or under the walnut-trees with Marian, than to waste his
noontide hours in the endeavour to fill a creditable game-bag. There is
not very much to tell of the hours which those two spent together so
happily. It was an innocent, frivolous, useless employment of time, and
left little trace behind it, except in the heart of one of those two.
Gilbert wondered at himself when, in some sober interval of reflection,
he happened to consider those idle mornings, those tranquil uneventful
afternoons and evenings, remembering what a devoted man of business he
had once been, and how a few months ago he would have denounced such a
life in another.

"Well," he said to himself, with a happy laugh, "a man can take this
fever but once in his life, and it is only wise in him to surrender
himself utterly to the divine delirium. I shall have no excuse for
neglecting business by-and-by, when my little wife and I are settled down
together for the rest of our days. Let me be her lover while I may. Can I
ever be less than her lover, I wonder? Will marriage, or custom, or the
assurance that we belong to each other for the re