aw the shining tears beading the curly lashes. She
was sorry for him.

"And if you could be _my_ little girl--"

"Oh, if I might!" and the longing freighted her tone. "If I could be
good enough--if I could love you enough. Oh, I _would_ try. I should
be so happy. To have a father of one's own!"

"Children are sometimes adopted."

"Yes, they were at Bethany Home, but they had to be very pretty, I'm
not--very."

"But I love you because you are _you_, I don't want you changed any
way. I want a daughter to be a companion as I grow older, to read to
me, to confide in me, to come to me in any trouble, to make a real
home, for a man alone cannot do that, and to love me very, very
dearly."

"I have always loved you," she said simply. Then after a
moment--"would I live with you?"

"Yes, when I have found a pretty home, and you will make friends and
have them visit you, and we will take journeys and have pleasures like
the Warrens."

"Oh! How good you are!" in a tone of tremulous joy. There was a little
twinge of conscience in both hearts concerning Miss Armitage. He
salved his, thinking if she had wanted to she might have made some
proffer of adoption. Marilla hardly knew how to choose between them.
If they could both go and live in Loraine place!

"I'll see Lorimer this afternoon. You have to apply to the
legislature, and you will have your name changed to Richards. Maybe
the judge or some will one question you whether you are willing to
take me for a father, since you are old enough to choose, and there
are several formalities, but the thing is often done, and you will be
mine, mine," pressing her to his heart in rapture.

"I am so glad." Every pulse throbbed with joy.

He yielded to the subtle satisfaction and kissed the sweet mouth. Oh,
he must get her strong and well and give her a lovely, long life! Like
a vision he could see her growing sweeter and dearer every year,
making life blossom with her love.

Then Mrs. Warren returned and the girls came home to lunch, having a
merry time talking over the Hippodrome.

"Nearly every Saturday papa takes us somewhere," said May. "There are
some beautiful plays for children and concerts and all summer the park
is splendid, though you can always go inside and there is so much to
see; and an automobile ride! Oh, I wish you were going to live here!"

There were so many pleasures to give his little girl. It made his
heart beat with joy to think he was going to have one