e too gentle and fragile.
You want a big fellow like me to stand between you and the world. It
shall be my work in life to shield you, and keep you sheltered and safe.
Only trust yourself to me, and you will see. You _will_ trust
yourself, won't you, darling? I'm not rich, but we should be
comfortable enough. You are not the sort of girl to be ambitious, and,
you _do_ love me, Lilith!"

Lilith smiled, but she left her hand in his, and a tinge of colour
showed in the pale cheeks.

"I think I _do_ love you, Francis!" she said slowly.

Francis pressed her hand in acknowledgment. Unbroken confidence had
deprived him of the great thrill which comes to most men at the
knowledge that they are beloved; but one cannot have everything in this
world, and if the choice had been his, he would unhesitatingly have
plumped for the greater ease. He pressed her hand, and bent over her
tenderly.

"My darling girl! You make me very happy. You shall never regret it,
I'll promise you that... Look at your little mite of a hand lying in
mine!--I could crush it to pieces with one clutch from my big paw. They
are a type of the difference between us--those two hands--I so big, and
strong, and you such a little slip of a weak, helpless thing."

Lilith bent her head on one side, and looked down with a smile. She
lifted her tiny fingers and softly stroked the giant hand.

"Why do you love me, Francis?"

"Because I can't help it!" returned Francis promptly. "Good heavens,
Lilith, if you knew how thankful a fellow is to meet a good
old-fashioned girl! I'm fed up with these modern specimens, who set
themselves up to be equal with men, and push and drive to force
themselves to the front, instead of being content with the place which
Nature has given them. I couldn't stick a modern woman. I want a wife
who will let me judge for her, and be thankful to have my protection--
like you, you little darling! You are everything that a woman ought to
be... And why do you love me?"

"Because you are so big, and so handsome, and so"--Lilith laughed, a
tinkling, girlish laugh, which took the sting from the word--"_stupid_!"
She bent nearer to him, with a caressing gesture, and Francis slipped
his arm round her waist, and laughed in sympathy. The dear, wee mite!
What nonsense she did talk!

"I don't care what is your reason, so long as you _do_ love me. And how
soon will you be ready to marry your stupid man?"

"Do people always marry