no power, no will to resist him, as he drew her close, still
closer to his heart.

She trembled, but was happy. No eye saw but God's through the blessed
twilight; and "God will not reprove Pierre Philibert for loving me,"
thought she, "and why should I?" She tried, or simulated, an attempt at
soft reproof, as a woman will who fears she may be thought too fond and
too easily won, at the very moment she is ready to fall down and kiss
the feet of the man before her.

"Pierre," said she, "it is time we rejoin our companions; they will
remark our absence. We will go."

But she still sat there, and made no effort to go. A gossamer thread
could have held her there forever, and how could she put aside the
strong arm that was mightier than her own will?

Pierre spoke now; the feelings so long pent up burst forth in a torrent
that swept away every bond of restraint but that of love's own laws.

He placed his hand tenderly on her cheek, and turned her glowing face
full towards him. Still she dared not look up. She knew well what he was
going to say. She might control her words, but not her tell-tale eyes.
She felt a wild joy flashing and leaping in her bosom, which no art
could conceal, should she look up at this moment in the face of Pierre
Philibert.

"Amelie," said he, after a pause, "turn those dear eyes, and see and
believe in the truth of mine! No words can express how much I do love
you!"

She gave a start of joy,--not of surprise, for she knew he loved her.
But the avowal of Pierre Philibert's love lifted at once the veil from
her own feelings. She raised her dark, impassioned eyes to his, and
their souls met and embraced in one look both of recognition and bliss.
She spake not, but unconsciously nestled closer to his breast, faltering
out some inarticulate words of tenderness.

"Amelie," continued he, straining her still harder to his heart, "your
love is all I ask of Heaven and of you. Give me that. I must have it, or
live henceforth a man forlorn in the wide world. Oh, say, darling, can
you, do you care for me?"

"Yes, indeed I do!" replied she, laying her arm over his neck, as if
drawing him towards her with a timid movement, while he stooped and
kissed her sweet mouth and eyes in an ecstasy of passionate joy.
She abandoned herself for a moment to her excess of bliss. "Kiss me,
darling!" said he; and she kissed him more than once, to express her own
great love and assure him that it was all his own.

They