had an intention of pursuing with some energy.

"Miss Waddington," he said, still holding her hand; "Caroline! Or am
I to apologize for calling you so? or is the privilege to be my own?"
and then, still holding her hand, he stood as though expectant of an
answer that should settle the affair at once.

"Our connection through your uncle entitles you to the privilege,"
said Caroline, smiling, and using a woman's wiles to get out of the
difficulty.

"I will take no privilege from you on such a basis. What I have to
ask of you must be given on my own account, or on my own refused.
Caroline, since we parted in that room in Jerusalem, I have thought
seriously of little else than of you. You could not answer me then;
you gave me no answer; you did not know your own heart, you said. You
must know it now. Absence has taught me much, and it must have taught
you something."

"And what has it taught you?" said she, with her eyes fixed on the
ground.

"That the world has but one thing desirable for me, and that I should
not take a man's part unless I endeavoured to obtain it. I am here to
ask for it. And now, what has absence taught you?"

"Oh, so many things! I cannot repeat my lesson in one word, as you
do."

"Come, Caroline, I look at least for sincerity from you. You are too
good, too gracious to indulge a girlish vanity at the cost of a man's
suspense."

Missish and girlish! Miss Waddington felt that it behoved her to look
to her character. These were words which had not usually been applied
to her.

"Indeed, Mr. Bertram, I should think myself unpardonable to keep you
in suspense."

"Then answer me," said he. He had by this time let go her hand, and
was standing at a little distance from her, on the hearth-rug. Never
had lady been wooed in a sterner manner; but Caroline almost felt
that she liked him the better for it. He had simpered and said his
little nothings so like an ordinary gentleman during their ride, that
his present brusqueness was quite a relief to her.

But still she did not answer him at once. She essayed to stick her
needle into her work, and pricked her finger in lieu of it.

"Come, Caroline; am I wrong in supposing that now at least you must
know your own feelings? Or shall I tell you again how dearly, how
truly I love you?"

"No!--no!--no!"

"Answer me, then. In honest, plain, Christian sincerity, answer me;
as a true woman should answer a true man. Do you love me?"

For a moment there w