self-reproaches. "Yes," said he, eagerly; "let us go there again
next week."

"Not next week, not next month, not next year, nor ever again until we
have told all the world."

"Well, Mary," said Walter, "it's for you to command and me to obey. I
said so before, and I say so now, if you are not ashamed of me, how can I
be ashamed of you; you say the word, and I will tell my father at
dinner-time, before Julia Clifford and John Baker, and request them to
tell everybody they know, that I am married to a woman I adore, and there
is nobody I care for on earth as I do for her, and nothing I value
compared with her love and her esteem."

Mary put her arm tenderly around her husband's neck; and now it was
with her as it is often with generous and tender-hearted women, when
all opposition to their wishes is withdrawn, they begin to see the
other side.

"My dearest," said Mary, "I couldn't bear you to sacrifice your
prospects for me."

"Why, Mary," said Walter, "what would my love be worth if it shrank from
self-sacrifice? I really think I should feel more pleasure than pain if I
gave up friends, kindred, hope, everything that is supposed to make life
pleasant for you."

"And so would I for you," said Mary; "and oh, Walter, women have
presentiments, and something tells me that fate has great trials in store
for you or for me, perhaps for both. Yes, you are right, the true measure
of love must be self-sacrifice, and if there is to be self-sacrifice, oh,
let the self-sacrifice fall on me; for I can not think any man can love a
woman quite so deeply as I love you--my darling."

He had only time to draw her sweet forehead to his bosom, whilst her arm
encircled his neck, when in came an ordinary love by way of contrast.

Julia Clifford and Percy came in, walking three yards apart: Percy had
untied the apron strings without Walter's assistance.

"Ah," said she, "you two are not like us. I am ashamed to interrupt you;
but they would not let us go down the mine without an order from Mr.
Hope. Really, I think Mr. Hope is king of this country. Not that we have
wasted our time, for he has been quarrelling with me all the way there
and back."

"Oh, Mr. Fitzroy!" said Mary Bartley.

"Miss Bartley," said Percy, very civilly, "I never q-q-quarrel, I merely
dis-distin-guished between right and wrong. I shall make you the judge.
I gave her a di-dia-mond br-bracelet which came down from my ancestors;
she did me the honor to accept it