nful and infectious exhibition of her grief.

"Poor Aleck," said Angela, when the time drew near, bending down over
the dog to hide a tear, as she had once before bent down to hide a
blush; "poor Aleck, I shall miss you almost as much as your master."

"You will not miss him, Angela, because I am going to make you a
present of him if you will keep him."

"That is very good of you, dear. I shall be glad to have him for your
sake."

"Well, keep him, love, he is a good dog; he will quite have
transferred his allegiance by the time I come back. I hope you won't
have done the same, Angela."

"Oh, Arthur, why will you so often make me angry by saying such
things? The sun will forget to shine before I forget you."

"Hush, love, I did not mean it," and he took her in his arms. And so
they sat there together under the oak where first they had met, hand
in hand and heart to heart, and it was at this moment that the self-
reliant strength, and more beautiful serenity of Angela's character as
compared with her lover's came into visible play. For whilst, as the
moment of separation drew nigh, he could scarcely contain his grief,
she on the other hand grew more and more calm, strengthening his
weakness with her quiet power; and bidding him seek consolation in his
trouble at the hands of Him who for His own purposes decreed it.

"Dearest," she said, in answer to his complainings, "there are so many
things in the world that we cannot understand, and yet they must be
right and lead to a good end. What may happen to us before this year
is out, of course we cannot say, but I feel that all love is immortal,
and that there is a perfect life awaiting us, if not in this world,
then in the next. Remember, dear, that these few years are, after all,
but as a breath to the general air, or as that dew-drop to the waters
of the lake, when compared with the future that awaits us there, and
that until we attain that future we cannot really know each other, or
the true meaning and purpose of our love. So look forward to it
without fear, dear heart, and if it should chance that I should pass
out of your life, or that other ties should spring up round you that
shall forbid the outward expression of our love----" Here Arthur
started and was about to interrupt, but she stopped him. "Do not
start, Arthur. Who can read the future? Stranger things have happened,
and if, I say, such a thing should come about in our case, then
remember, I implore you,