are far enough
removed to be entirely safe so far as that is concerned. So dearest,
you need not hesitate on that account, if you feel that you can love me
well enough to be happy as my wife. Can you? If you cannot now, I may be
able to teach you to by clever courting. But I need a wife--I do indeed;
and I don't know how to wait. Don't make me wait. Can't you give me your
love--at least a little of it?"

"Oh, Dick! do you really care so much for me and my love--really love me
in that way?" she asked low and tremulously, her eyes full of happy
tears. "I never thought of such a thing before; but--but I do believe I
can--I do love you better than any other of my cousins; better
than--than anybody else in the world."

"Ah! dearest, you have made me very, very happy," he said joyously;
"happier than I ever was in my life before, and I shall go home far
richer than I came."

As he spoke he drew her to a rustic seat in a nook so concealed by the
trees and shrubbery and the winding of the path that they were entirely
hidden from view, and, putting an arm about her he held her close with
silent caresses that seemed very sweet to her; for she had been an
orphan for years, and often hungry for love greater than that of brother
or sister.

"Maud, dear," he said presently, "we have given ourselves to each other,
and why should we delay the final step? I do not want to go back to my
home alone; will you not go with me? It would make me the happiest of
men."

"But--but you are going very soon, I understood--in a few days."

"Yes; it would hardly do for me to wait longer than that; but what is
the use of waiting? We know each other now as thoroughly as we ever can
till we live together as man and wife."

"But I should have no time to prepare my wardrobe----"

"It is good enough, and can be easily added to when you are Mrs.
Percival," he said with a low, gleeful laugh. "I am ready to take you,
my darling, if you were without a single change of raiment. I do not
think you know it, dearest, but I am no longer the poor relation I used
to be. I have had a large practise, worked hard, and made some very
fortunate investments, so that I can truly say that I am a fairly
wealthy man. Ah, do give yourself into my keeping at once. I am heartily
tired of my lonely bachelor life, and it will be great joy to me if I
can go back, not to it, but to that of a happy married man. How a dear
little wife--such as my cousin Maud would make--would