housand thanks, dear Leoline!" exclaimed Sir Norman, raising her
hand to his lips, and quite beside himself with ecstasy.

"Ah, I did not tell you to say that!" she cried, with a gay laugh and
vivid blush. "I never said you were to call me dear."

"It arose from my heart to my lips," said Sir Norman, with thrilling
earnestness and fervid glance; "for you are dear to me--dearer than all
the world beside!"

The flush grew a deeper glow on the lady's face; but, singular to
relate, she did not look the least surprised or displeased; and the hand
he had feloniously purloined lay passive and quite contented in his.

"Sir Norman Kingsley is pleased to jest," said the lady, in a subdued
tone, and with her eyes fixed pertinaciously on her shining dress; "for
he has never spoken to me before in his life!"

"That has nothing to do with it, Leoline. I love you as devotedly as if
I had known you from your birthday; and, strange to say, I feel as if we
had been friends for years instead of minutes. I cannot realize at all
that you are a stranger to me!"

Leoline laughed:

"Nor I; though, for that matter, you are not a stranger to me, Sir
Norman!"

"Am I not? How is that!"

"I have seen you go past so often, you know; and Prudence told me who
you were; and so I need--I used--" hesitating and glowing to a degree
before which her dress paled.

"Well, dearest," said Sir Norman, getting from the positive to the
superlative at a jump, and diminishing the distance between them, "you
need to--what?"

"To watch for you!" said Leoline, in a sly whisper. "And so I have got
to know you very well!"

"My own darling! And, O Leoline! may I hope--dare I hope--that you do
not altogether hate me?"

Leoline looked reflective; though her bleak eyes were sparkling under
their sweeping lashes.

"Why, no," she said, demurely, "I don't know as I do. It's very sinful
and improper to hate one's fellow-creatures, you know, Sir Norman, and
therefore I don't indulge in it."

"Ah! you are given to piety, I see. In that case, perhaps you are aware
of a precept commanding us to love our neighbors. Now, I'm your nearest
neighbor at present; so, to keep up a consistent Christian spirit, just
be good enough to say you love me!"

Again Leoline laughed; and this time the bright, dancing eyes beamed in
their sparkling darkness full upon him.

"I am afraid your theology is not very sound, my friend, and I have
a dislike to extremes. There is a middl