en train-time comes to-morrow."

Her eyes fell, for she saw what was in his thoughts, and rising quickly,
like a scared bird anxious to escape, turned away.

But a strong hand clasped one of hers, and then she heard him say, "Am I
to go away to-morrow happy or miserable? You know what I came up here to
ask. You know what I have worked and studied and waited for all the long
year since first I saw you, and for whom I have tried to become a useful
man in the world instead of an idler. It was to win you and to ask this
that I came here to-day."

Then she felt an arm clasp her waist, and a voice that trembled a little
say:

"Answer me, sweet Alice, is it yes or no?"

And then he felt her supple form yield a trifle, and as he gathered her
close in his arms her proud head touched his shoulder.

He had won his sweet Alice.

CHAPTER XLI

AN HEIRESS

The winter had passed and March returned when one morning Albert
received a bulky envelope bearing the Stockholm postmark, and containing
numerous legal papers and a lengthy letter, all of which imparted
information both surprising and pleasant. So interesting was it that he
did not notice Frank when he came in, or even hear his greeting, and
well might Albert be keenly absorbed in those documents, for they made
him the emissary privileged to lay at the feet of the girl he loved--a
fortune!

No more need she devote herself to her foster-parents for many years to
come, and no more need Uncle Terry putter over lobster traps in rain or
shine, or good, patient Aunt Lissy bake, wash, and mend, year in and
year out.

Here was enough and more than they could spend in all the years that
were left them, and what a charming privilege it would be to him to
place in her loving hand the means to make glad and bless those kindly
people who, all unasked, had cared for her as their own; and what a
sweet door of hope it opened for him! He could hardly wait for the
moment when he should say to her, "Here is the golden key that unlocks
the world for you and yours."

Then for the first time he noticed Frank watching him with smiling
interest.

"Well," remarked that cheerful young man, "I'm glad to see you emerge
from your trance and return to earth again. I've said good morning
twice, and watched you for half an hour, and you didn't even know I was
in the room."

When Frank had perused the most interesting of the documents he gave a
low whistle, and with his rather startling