pressed a hope that, for the
sake of the district, the minister would be able to defeat all the
machinations of his intriguing neighbour--here he was stopped in his
speech by a meaning look from the minister over at me, as I sat at the
end of the table--and ended with some wandering remarks, which were
meant to turn off the whole thing.

I turned cold, and the perspiration stood on my forehead, and I must
have been as white as a sheet. For my father's sake, I thought I must
keep up appearances, but the food stuck in my throat, and I could not
swallow another mouthful. I looked across at Susanna; she was crimson.

There was a short silence, during which every one ruminated over what
had passed, until the summer day's drowsiness became too overpowering,
and the minister and the sheriff, who were both accustomed to take an
after-dinner nap, proposed that every one should seek a shady place and
rest for an hour.

After what had passed at table I felt utterly miserable. They had
allowed so offensive an opinion about my father to escape, that it was
torture to me to remain any longer in their company.

A little beyond the house, the hill sloped down into a narrow valley,
with birches and willows on the ridge on both sides, and among them
there flowed over the flint stones a clear, twinkling little brook, in
which glided a trout or two. While the others slept, I went up along the
bank, and lay down to brood in solitude over my sorrow.

I do not know how long I had lain thus; but when I looked up, Susanna
sat there in great agitation. She thought they had behaved badly towards
me, she said, and then, as though she could not bear to see me
distressed, she silently stroked the hair back from my forehead again
and again.

There was a warmth in the little hand and an eloquence in her face as
she struggled to keep back her tears, that my heart, so hungering after
affection, could not withstand.

I do not know how it came about, but I only remember that I stood and
pressed her passionately to my heart, with my cheek against hers, and
begged her to love me, only a little, and I would love her without
measure the whole of my life. I remember, too, that she answered "Yes,"
and that we both cried.

A little while after we stood hand in hand, smiling and looking at one
another. A new thought had simultaneously come to us both--that now we
were engaged. Susanna was the first to give it expression, and said, as
she looked at me ou