nt to ask you something, a favor so great my lips can hardly frame the
words."

She looked at me. There was infinite wonder, infinite gentleness in her
eyes. I took courage then, and told my tale in burning words. I cannot
remember now, but I told her how I had loved her from the first moment I
had ever seen her, and had resolved upon winning her, if she was to be
won.

Never mind what passed. I only know the sun never shone so brightly, the
flowers were never one-half so fair, the world so bright, no man ever
one-half so happy.

For she--well, she had listened to me, and her sweet lips quivered, her
beautiful face had grown tender and soft; she laid her little, white
hands in mine and said she loved me.

I have wondered since that the weight of my own happiness did not break
my heart, the suspense had been so great.

"You love me? Say it again, Agatha. I cannot believe it. Oh, my darling,
it seemed to me easier to reach the golden stars than to win you!"

"You did not try," she said, with a smile half sweet, half divine. "You
always looked frightened at me."

"So I was, but I will grow bolder now. Such beauty, such purity, such
goodness as yours would awe anyone. I can hardly believe now in my own
good fortune. Say it again, darling."

She raised her sweet face to mine.

"I love you," she said, simply; and it seemed to me the words died away
in the summer wind more sweetly than an echo from heaven would die.

"And you will be my wife? Agatha, promise me."

"I will be your wife," she said; and then, to my thinking, we went
straight away to fairyland.

I do not remember the sun setting, although it must have set; for when
my senses returned to me a servant was standing before us, saying that
Lady Thesiger was afraid it was growing cold.

There lay the dew shining on the trees and flowers, yet we had not even
seen it fall.

CHAPTER IX.

I would not leave the manor house until I had seen Sir John. Agatha did
not go back to the drawing-room with me.

"What will mamma think?" she said, in utter dismay. "See how late it is;
and the dew has fallen."

"I will tell her why I detained you, Agatha. You are sure that I shall
not wake up tomorrow and find all this is a dream?"

"I do not think so," she replied; and then she would not stop for
another word, and I went in to meet Lady Thesiger alone.

She was surprised when I told her. No matter what Coralie said about
maneuvering, if ever I saw real,