n't you love me? Will you not be my wife?"

Czipra turned her head on one side.

"Ah, you are merely jesting with me. You want to tease, to ridicule a
wretched creature who is nothing but a gypsy girl."

Lorand drew the girl's hand to his heart when she accused him of jesting
with her. Something within told him the girl had a right to believe
that, and the thought wrung his heart.

"How could you misunderstand me? Do you think I would play a jest upon
you--and now?"

Topandy interrupted kindly.

"How could I jest with God now, when I am preparing to enter his
presence?"

"How could I jest with your heart?" said Lorand.

"And with a dying girl," panted Czipra.

"No, no, you will not die, you will get well again, and we shall be
happy."

"You say that now when I am dying," said the girl with sad reproach.
"You tell me the whole beautiful world is thine, now, when of that world
I shall have nothing but the clod of earth, which you will throw upon
me."

"No, my child," said Topandy, "Lorand asked your hand of me yesterday
evening, and was only awaiting his mother's approval to tell you
yourself his feelings towards you."

A quick flash of joy darted over the girl's face, and then it darkened
again.

"Why, I know," she said brushing aside her tangled curls from her face,
"I know your intentions are good. You are doing with me what people do
with sick children. 'Get well! We'll buy you beautiful clothes, golden
toys, we'll take you to places of amusement, for journeys--we shall be
good-humored--will never annoy you:--only get well.' You want to give
the poor girl pleasure, to make her better, I thank you for that too."

"You will not believe me," said Lorand, "but you will believe the
minister's word. See last night I wrote a letter to mother about you: it
lies sealed on my writing-table. Reverend sir, be so kind as to open and
read it before her. She will believe you if you tell her we are not
cajoling her."

The minister opened the letter, while Czipra, holding Lorand's hand,
listened with rapt attention to the words that were read:

"MY DEAR MOTHER:

"After the many sorrows and pains I have continuously caused
throughout my life to the tenderest of mothers' hearts, to-day I
can send you news of joy.

"I am about to marry.

"I am taking to wife one who has loved me as a poor, nameless,
homeless youth, for myself alone, and whom I love for her faithful
hear