sly for you, and by a very beautiful
girl."

"Oh, doctor, not by--"

"Yes; she sends it you."

"Ah!" And he caught Hope up, and began to devour her with kisses, and
his eyes sparkled finely.

"I have some good news, too, for you. Mr. Carden tells me he never
intended to separate you entirely from his daughter. If you can be
moderate, discreet, old before your time, etc., and come only about
once a week, and not compromise her publicly, you will be as welcome as
ever."

"That IS good news, indeed. I'll go there this very day; and I'll patent
the circular saw."

"There's a non-sequitur for you!"

"Nothing of the kind, sir. Why, even the Queen's go-betweens will never
daunt me, now I can go and drink love and courage direct from HER eyes;
and nothing can chill nor discourage me now. I'll light my forge again
and go to work, and make a few sets of carving-tools, and that will pay
the go-betweens for patenting my circular-saw grinder. But first I'll
put on my coat and go to heaven."

"Had you not better postpone that till the end of your brilliant career
as an inventor and a lover?"

"No; I thirst for heaven, and I'll drink it." So he made his toilet,
thanked and blessed the good doctor, and off to Woodbine Villa.

Grace Carden saw him coming, and opened the door to him herself, red as
scarlet, and her eyes swimming. She scarcely made an effort to contain
herself by this time, and when she got him into the drawing-room all
to herself, she cried, for joy and tenderness, on his shoulder; and, it
cost him a gulp or two, I can tell you: and they sat hand in hand,
and were never tired of gazing at each other; and the hours flew by
unheeded. All their trouble was as though it had never been. Love
brightened the present, the future, and even the past. He did not tell
Grace one word of what he had suffered from Vicaria--I thank thee,
doctor, for teaching me that word--it had lost all interest to him. Love
and happiness had annihilated its true character--like the afternoon sun
gilding a far-off pig-sty. He did mention the subject, however, but it
was in these terms: "And, dearest, I'm hard at work inventing, and I
patent all my inventions; so I hope to satisfy your father before two
years."

And Grace said, "Yes; but don't overwork your poor brain and worry
yourself. I am yours in heart, and that is something, I hope. I know it
is to me; I wouldn't change with any wife in Christendom."

CHAPTER XXIX.

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