usiasm of the summer.

They walked for a moment in silence,--he, with a scowl upon his face.
Seeing this, Adele said plaintively,--

"It seems to me, Reuben, as if this might be only a solemn mockery of
yours."

"You doubt me, then?" returned he like a flash.

"Do you not doubt yourself, Reuben? Have you never doubted yourself?"
This with a glance that pierced him through.

"Good Heavens! are you turned preacher?" said he, bitterly. "Will you
measure a heart by its dogmatic beliefs?"

"For shame, Reuben!"

And for a time both were silent. At last Adele spoke again,--

"There is a sense of coming trouble that oppresses me strangely,--that
tells me I must not listen to you, Reuben."

"I know it, Adele; and it is for this I would cherish you, and protect
you against all possible shame or indignities"----

"Shame! Indignities! What does this mean? What do you know, Reuben?"

Reuben blushed scarlet. His speech had outrun his discretion; but
seizing her hand, and pressing it more tenderly than ever, he said,--

"Only this, Adele: I see that a coolness has grown up toward you in the
parsonage; the old prejudice against French blood may revive again;
besides which, there is, you know, Adele, that little family cloud"----

"Is this the old, kind Reuben, my brother, who reminds me of a trouble
so shadowy I cannot fairly measure it?" And Adele covered her face with
her hands.

"Forgive me, Adele, for God's sake!"

"There _is_ a cloud, Reuben; thank you for the word," said Adele,
recovering herself; "and there is, I fear, an even darker cloud upon
your faith. Until both are passed, I can never listen to such talk as
you would urge upon me,--never! never!"

And there was a spirit in her words now that awed Reuben.

"Would you impute my unbelief to me as a crime, Adele? Is this your
Christian charity? Do you think that I enjoy this fierce wrestling with
doubts? or, having them, would you bid me play false and conceal them?
What if I am a final castaway, as your good books tell us some must be,
would you make me a castaway before my time, and balk all my hopes in
life? Is this your charity?"

"I would not,--you know I would not, Reuben."

"Listen to me, Adele. If there be any hope of making my way out of this
weary wrangle, it seems to me that it would be in the constant presence
of your simple, exultant faith. Will you be my teacher, Adele?"

"Teacher,--yes, with all my heart, Reuben."

"Then be mine," said