ay--she loves you well," the angry girl had said to him.

Well, why should not he go to Louisa? Louisa was not his style, but
she was handsome, and she had a good bit of money, and he had guessed
long ago that she loved him. He did not want to hear of Alison's new
lover, and of Alison's engagement, and of Alison's marriage without
putting some shield between himself and the bitter words that would be
spoken, and the laugh that would be all against him. He was proud as
well as steadfast; he was daring as well as true. If Alison could give
him up as she had done, why should he not take the lesser good? It was
true that Louisa had admitted, or almost admitted, her engagement to
Sampson, which was really the wedding poor Jim had alluded to on
Christmas Eve; but Jim knew that matters were not settled in that
direction yet, and he was too angry just now not to feel a keen desire
to cut Sampson out. He went straight, therefore, to the Clays' house.
His heart was just in that sort of tempest of feeling when men so often
take a rash step and lay up misery for themselves for the whole of
their remaining days.

Mr. and Mrs. Clay were out, but Louisa was at home; she had a cold, and
had not cared to venture out in the raw December air. Jim was shown
into a snug little parlor at the back of the shop. Louisa was
becomingly dressed, and looked remarkably handsome. She started with
pleasure when she saw Jim, colored up to her eyes, and then noticing
something which she had never noticed before in his glance, looked
down, trembling and overcome. At that moment her love made her
beautiful. Jim saw it trembling on her lips. The reaction between her
warmth and Alison's frozen manner was too much for him; he made a
stride forward, and the next moment had taken her in his arms; his
kisses rested on her lips. She gave a sigh of ineffable bliss.

"Oh, Jim!" she said, "has it come to this? Am I to have my heart's
desire after all?"

"If I am your heart's desire, you can have me, and welcome," answered
Jim.

"Oh, Jim! I love you so much. I am the happiest gel in all the world.
Kiss me again, do. Oh, how I love you!"

"My dear girl," said the young man.

He did not say yet that he loved her back again, but his heart was
beating high. At that moment he was not proof against her beauty,
which in its own way was remarkable.

"Then we're engaged," she said. "Oh, Jim, is it true that such
happiness is come to me? I feel s