"Told her what?" he asked, laughing outright at mine embarrassment.

"Why,--why,--that,--that,--"

"What in the devil's name is the matter with thee?" cried he, not
giving me time to finish.

"That I love her,--Hazel,--Lady Hazel Woodville, Lady-in-waiting on her
Majesty the Queen," I answered; thus trying to give the impression that
I had made it perfectly clear before, but that his skull was too thick
to permit my meaning to pass through.

"Bravo, bravo! my dear friend," cried he, as he sprang to his feet and
grasped my hand and slapped me on the shoulder. "Thou didst get it out
at last. Why, Bradley, I knew it the moment thou didst start to
hesitate and fidget so. Those symptoms, following those dreamy fits,
from which thou hast been suffering of late, are the surest indications
of that peculiar disease of the heart which so sadly affects the mind.
One is almost sure to catch it when one doth come in frequent contact
with fair maidens. Now the one with which thou hast been associated so
much is simply a human moon, to make men mad. Therefore, my dear
fellow, I was quite certain that thou wouldst soon cry out for it. But
tell me," he said, more seriously, "what did she say?" Then before I
could tell him:--"I need not ask; 'tis writ upon your smiling
countenance."

He had scarcely finished his congratulations when in walked Hazel and
Mary, arm in arm. When they came up to us, my dear maid's face was
crimson with blushes, and Mary's contracted with joyous smiles.

"Hast thou told him yet?" asked Hazel, glancing in Harleston's
direction.

I nodded. "And doth Mary know?" I asked.

"I just told her," she whispered.

Then Harleston and Mary came up to us, and as my little golden haired
cousin took my hand and congratulated me for having won the dearest
maid in Christendom, Frederick reached across, and taking Hazel's hand,
wished her all happiness, and said some pleasant things of me, the
which I shall not put down.

So there we stood and talked and laughed--for laughter is ever waiting
to burst forth, when the heart is light and young, and filled with
love's tender passion--till we heard a commotion in the ballroom. We
rushed out to see what was the cause of these unusual sounds. The
scene we beheld prodigiously surprised us. Every one was hurrying in
the direction of the throne, and making all sorts of exclamations. I
left Harleston to look after the ladies, and hurriedly I made my way
throug