ng! He is coming fast! He will be in sight
presently! There! what did I tell you? There he is!"

And truly at that moment Herman Brudenell advanced from the thicket and
walked rapidly up the path towards the hut.

Nora sank back in her seat, overcome, almost fainting.

Another moment and Herman Brudenell was in the room, clasping her form,
and sobbing:

"Nora! Nora, my beloved! my beautiful! you have been ill and I knew it
not! dying, and I knew it not! Oh! oh! oh!"

"Yes, but I am well, now that you are here!" gasped the girl, as she
thrilled and trembled with returning life. But the moment this
confession had been surprised from her she blushed fiery red to the very
tips of her ears and hid her face in the pillows of her chair.

"My darling girl! My own blessed girl! do not turn your face away! look
at me with your sweet eyes! See, I am here at your side, telling you how
deep my own sorrow had been at the separation from you, and how much
deeper at the thought that you also have suffered! Look at me! Smile on
me! Speak to me, beloved! I am your own!"

These and many other wild, tender, pleading words of love he breathed in
the ear of the listening, blushing, happy girl; both quite heedless of
the presence of Hannah, who stood petrified with consternation.

At length, however, by the time Herman had seated himself beside Nora,
Hannah recovered her presence of mind and power of motion; and she went
to him and said:

"Mr. Brudenell! Is this well? Could you not leave her in peace?"

"No, I could not leave her! Yes, it is well, Hannah! The burden I spoke
of is unexpectedly lifted from my life! I am a restored man. And I have
come here to-day to ask Nora, in your presence, and with your consent,
to be my wife!"

"And with your mother's consent, Mr. Brudenell?"

"Hannah, that was unkind of you to throw a damper upon my joy. And look
at me, I have not been in such robust health myself since you drove me
away!"

As he said this, Nora's hand, which he held, closed convulsively on his,
and she murmured under her breath:

"Have you been ill? You are not pale!"

"No, love, I was only sad at our long separation; now you see I am
flushed with joy; for now I shall see you every day!" he replied,
lifting her hand to his lips.

Hannah was dreadfully disturbed. She was delighted to see life, and
light, and color flowing back to her sister's face; but she was dismayed
at the very cause of this--the presence of Herman