st a stranger to
you, perhaps?"

"Almost," she answered, looking at him with clear truthful eyes.

"That is rather hard upon me, my dear. But I can wait. You do not know
how patient I can be."

He began to talk of indifferent subjects after this, a little depressed
and disheartened by the course the interview had taken. He felt that he
had been too precipitate. What was there in a fortnight's intimacy to
justify such a step, except to himself, with whom time had been measured
by a different standard since he had known Marian Nowell? He was angry
with his own eagerness, which had brought upon him this semi-defeat.

Happily Miss Nowell had not told him that his case was hopeless, had not
forbidden him to approach the subject again; nor had she exhibited any
involuntary sign of aversion to him. Surprise had appeared the chief
sentiment caused by his revelation. Surprise was natural to such girlish
inexperience; and after surprise had passed away, more tender feelings
might arise, a latent tenderness unsuspected hitherto.

"I think a woman can scarcely help returning a man's love, if he is only
as thoroughly in earnest as I am," Gilbert Fenton said to himself, as he
sat under the walnut-trees trying to talk pleasantly, and to ignore the
serious conversation which had preceded that careless talk.

He saw the Captain alone next day, and told him what had happened. George
Sedgewick listened to him with profound attention and a grave anxious
face.

"She didn't reject you?" he said, when Gilbert had finished his story.

"Not in plain words. But there was not much to indicate hope. And yet I
cling to the fancy that she will come to love me in the end. To think
otherwise would be utter misery to me. I cannot tell you how dearly I
love her, and how weak I am about this business. It seems contemptible
for a man to talk about a broken heart; but I shall carry an empty one to
my grave unless I win Marian Nowell for my wife."

"You shall win her!" cried the Captain energetically. "You are a noble
fellow, sir, and will make her an excellent husband. She will not be so
foolish as to reject such a disinterested affection. Besides," he added,
hesitating a little, "I have a very shrewd notion that all this apparent
indifference is only shyness on my little girl's part, and that she loves
you."

"You believe that!" cried Gilbert eagerly.

"It is only guesswork on my part, of course. I am an old bachelor, you
see, and have had ve