will gladly take Gerty to my home, see that she is well educated, and,
as long as I live, provide for and take care of her, you have my solemn
assurance (and here she laid her hand on his) that it shall be done, and
that to the best of my ability I will try to make her happy."

Gerty's first impulse was to rush towards Emily, and fling her arms
around her neck; but she was arrested in the act, for she observed that
True was weeping like an infant. In an instant his feeble head was
resting upon her bosom; her hand was wiping away the great tears that
had rushed to his eyes. It was an easy task, for they were tears of
joy--of a joy that had quite unnerved him in his present state of
prostration and weakness.

The proposal was so utterly foreign to his thoughts or expectations,
that it seemed to him a hope too bright to be relied upon; and, after a
moment's pause, an idea occurring to him which seemed to increase his
doubts, he gave utterance to it in the words--"But your father, Miss
Emily!--Mr. Graham!--he's partickler, and not over-young now. I'm afeard
he wouldn't like a little gal in the house."

"My father if indulgent to _me_," replied Emily; "he would not object to
any plan I had at heart, and I have become so much attached to Gertrude
that she would be of great use and comfort to me. I trust, Mr. Flint,
that you will recover a portion, at least, of your health and strength,
and be spared to her for many a year yet; but, in order that you may in
no case feel any anxiety on her account, I take this opportunity to tell
you that, if I should outlive you, she will be sure of a home with me."

"Ah, Miss Emily!" said the old man, "my time's about out, I feel right
sure o' that; and, since you're willin', you'll soon be called to take
charge on her. I haven't forgot how tossed I was in my mind the day
after I brought her home with me, with thinkin' that p'raps I wasn't fit
to undertake the care of such a little thing, and hadn't ways to make
her comfortable; and then, Miss Emily, do you remember you said to
me, 'You've done quite right; the Lord will bless and reward you?' I've
thought many a time since that you was a true prophet, and that your
words were, what I thought 'em then, a whisper right from heaven! And
now you talk o' doing the same thing yourself; and I, that am just goin'
home to God, and feel as if I read his ways clearer than ever afore, _I
tell you_, Miss Emily, that you're doin' right, too; and, if th