ies.
Miss Staveley, your father knows of my intention."

On this point Madeline did not feel it to be necessary to say
anything. Of course her father knew of the intention. Had she not
received her father's sanction for listening to Mr. Graham she would
not have been alone with him in the library. It might be that the
time would come in which she would explain all this to her lover,
but that time had not come yet. So when he spoke of her father she
remained silent, and allowing her eyes to fall to the ground she
stood before him, waiting to hear his question.

"Miss Staveley," he said;--and he was conscious himself of being very
awkward. Much more so, indeed, than there was any need, for Madeline
was not aware that he was awkward. In her eyes he was quite master
of the occasion, and seemed to have everything his own way. He had
already done all that was difficult in the matter, and had done it
without any awkwardness. He had already made himself master of her
heart, and it was only necessary now that he should enter in and take
possession. The ripe fruit had fallen, as Miss Furnival had once
chosen to express it, and there he was to pick it up,--if only he
considered it worth his trouble to do so. That manner of the picking
would not signify much, as Madeline thought. That he desired to take
it into his garner and preserve it for his life's use was everything
to her, but the method of his words at the present moment was
not much. He was her lord and master. He was the one man who had
conquered and taken possession of her spirit; and as to his being
awkward, there was not much in that. Nor do I say that he was
awkward. He spoke his mind in honest, plain terms, and I do not know
he could have done better.

"Miss Staveley," he said, "in asking you to see me alone, I have made
a great venture. I am indeed risking all that I most value." And then
he paused, as though he expected that she would speak. But she still
kept her eyes upon the ground, and still stood silent before him.
"I cannot but think you must guess my purpose," he said, "though I
acknowledge that I have had nothing that can warrant me in hoping for
a favourable answer. There is my hand; if you can take it you need
not doubt that you have my heart with it." And then he held out to
her his broad, right hand.

Madeline still stood silent before him and still fixed her eyes upon
the ground, but very slowly she raised her little hand and allowed
her soft slig