"I acknowledge no such thing. I only say to you what any other girl but
yourself would be willing enough to believe; but how shall I convince
you that I am serious, and wish to be so understood?"

"By addressing me with simple truthfulness, and sparing me those words
and attentions which I wish to convince you are unacceptable to me and
unworthy of yourself."

"But I have a meaning, Gertrude, a _deep_ meaning. I have been trying
long to find an opportunity to tell you of my resolve, and you _must_
listen to me now;" for he saw her change colour and look anxious and
uneasy. "You must give me an answer at once, and one that will, I trust,
be favourable to my wishes. You like plain speaking; and I will be plain
enough, now that my mind is made up. My relatives and friends may talk
and wonder as much as they please at my choosing a wife who has neither
money nor family to boast of; but I will defy them all, and offer
without hesitation to share my prospects with you. What is money good
for, if it does not make a man independent to do as he pleases? And, as
to the world, I don't see but that you can hold your head as high as
anybody, Gertrude; so, if you've no objection to make, we'll play at
cross purposes no longer;" and he endeavoured to take her hand.

But Gertrude drew back; the colour flushed her cheeks, and her eyes
glistened as she fixed them upon his face, with an expression of
astonishment and pride. The penetrating look of those dark eyes spoke
volumes, and Mr. Bruce replied to their inquiring gaze in these words:
"I hope you are not displeased at my frankness."

"With your frankness," said Gertrude, calmly; "no, that is a thing that
never displeases me. But what I have unconsciously done to inspire you
with so much confidence, that, while you defend yourself for defying the
wishes of your friends, you hardly give me a voice in the matter?"

"Nothing," said Bruce; "but I thought you had laboured under the
impression that I was disposed to trifle with your affections, and had
therefore kept aloof and maintained a distance towards me which you
would not have done had you known I was in earnest; but, believe me, I
only admired you the more for behaving with so much dignity, and if I
have presumed upon your favour, you must forgive me."

The expression of wounded pride vanished from Gertrude's face. "He knows
no better," thought she; "I should pity his vanity and ignorance, and
sympathize in his disappointmen