own mind--"If
you had disliked the idea, you'd 'a' suspected him quick enough"--and
was pleased. He spoke again. "But I didn't stop with guessing."

Zosephine looked up to his face from the little foot that edgewise
was writing nothings in the dust.

"No," continued her companion: "I walked with him two evenings ago in
this avenue, and right where we stand now, without his ever knowing
it--then or now--he as good as told me. Yes, Josephine, he dares to
love your beautiful and accomplished daughter! The thought may offend
you, but--was I not right to tell you?"

She nodded and began to move slowly on, he following.

"I'm not betraying anyone's confidence," persisted he; "and I can't
help but have a care for you. Not that you need it, or anybody's. You
can take care of yourself if any man or woman can. Every time your
foot touches the ground it says so as plain as words. That's what
first caught my fancy. You haven't got to have somebody to take care
of you. O Josephine! that's just why I want to take care of you so
bad! I can take care of myself, and I used to like to do it; I was
just that selfish and small; but love's widened me. I can take care of
myself; but, oh! what satisfaction is there in it? Is there any? Now,
I ask you! It may do for you, for you're worth taking care of; but I
want to take care of something I needn't be ashamed to love!" He
softly stole her hand as they went. She let it stay, yet looked away
from him, up through the darkling branches, and distressfully shook
her head.

"Don't, Josephine!--don't do that. I want you to take care of me. You
could do better, I know, if love wasn't the count; but when it comes
to loving you, I'm the edition deloox! I know you've an aspiring
nature, but so have I; and I believe with you to love and you loving
me, and counselling and guiding me, I could climb high. O Josephine!
it isn't this poor Tarbox I'm asking you to give yourself to; it's the
Tarbox that is to be; it's the coming Tarbox! Why, it's even a good
business move! If it wasn't I wouldn't say a word! You know I can, and
will take the very best care of every thing you've got; and I know
you'll take the same of mine. It's a good move, every way. Why, here's
every thing just fixed for it! Listen to the mocking-bird! See him
yonder, just at the right of the stile. See! O Josephine! don't you
see he isn't

'Still singing where the weeping willow waves'?

he's on the myrtle; the myrtle, Josephine,