ed our content. "Virginia," said Roger suddenly,
"what will your father say?"

My father! I had never thought of him. So absorbing had been the
consciousness that Roger Dale loved me and I returned his love, that
every other consideration was blotted from my mind.

"Not to-night. We will not talk of that to-night. Let me be happy while
I can," I cried, pressing his arm with feverish fondness.

"He dislikes me then? I was sure of it," he said quietly, but there was
a scowl on his face.

"He does not know you, Roger. But I will make him give his consent. He
cannot refuse me anything."

We walked on in silence. I felt stirred and rebellious. "Dearest," said
I, in a low tone of determination, "I will be true to you whatever
happens."

He stooped his head and kissed me. "If you are as constant to me, sweet
Virginia, as I shall be to you, nothing can separate us."

Oh, joyous words! Were they not the very same with which I had fortified
my courage scarcely a month ago?

We parted just after midnight. My aunt was sitting up for me, and I
burst into the room in great excitement.

"Oh, Aunt Helen, I am engaged, I am engaged! I am so happy!"

"My darling child!"

We wept in each other's arms.

"He is so noble, Aunty; so good and kind!"

"God grant he may continue so!" she said, stroking my hair.

I gave a vent to my ecstasy in talk. While I rattled on she sat drying
her eyes and looking at me with a half fond, half uneasy expression. Now
and again she sobbed hysterically. At last she exclaimed, "What will
your father say?"

"We will think of that to-morrow," I said. "I mean to be perfectly happy
to-night."

"You will have to write to him of course."

"We have decided on nothing yet."

"Oh, Virginia, I am all in a flutter. What _will_ he say? He is sure to
blame me, and Heaven knows I acted for what seemed to me the best."

"It _was_ the best, dear Aunt Helen. Can't you see how happy I am? When
Roger and I are married, you shall come and live with us always, and
have the best room in the house; for if it hadn't been for you I might
never have known what it is to be loved by the noblest man in the
world."

It was a long time before I fell asleep. I was aroused in the morning by
a knock at my door. It was Aunt Helen.

"Let me in," she said mysteriously.

"Well?" said I when I had risen and admitted her, "what is it? What has
happened?"

"Your father has just arrived. He is downstairs."

"Father?"