have another
opportunity.'

My heart sank within me, but I knew that it must come, and steadied my
voice as I replied simply, 'I am sorry.'

'Are you?' he said, bending down over me with a look in his eyes that I
could not meet. 'Will you miss me when I am gone? I have such a
longing to stay and surround you with the love and tenderness that I
feel for you--to have the right of protecting and shielding you from so
many things that must distress you in your life here. I wonder what
your feelings are towards me? Could you trust me with your dear little
self, or am I too old, and too grave to suit you? Do you care for me
just a little--Hilda?'

I could not answer. Somehow or other I had never expected this or
looked for it. To have him as a friend was as much as I had ever
hoped, and I felt confused and bewildered by the thoughts of anything
more.

He seemed to read my thoughts. 'I have taken you by surprise; do not
give me your answer now. I will wait till to-morrow. I think I could
make you happy, my child,' and there was a little wistfulness in his
tone. 'I know how happy you would make me.'

I tried to speak, but could not. He stood up by the fireplace, looking
down at me silently for a moment, then said, 'Do not distress yourself;
it is no light thing I am asking you--to give yourself away for life to
one you know so comparatively little. If I were a younger man, I
should not hesitate so. But I do think we have a bond together which
many have not--that of being fellow-workers and servants of the same
Master. And,' here his voice broke a little, 'Hilda, dear child, you
have my love; shall I be able to win yours?'

Then, as I was still silent, he made a movement as if about to leave
me. 'I will not press you--give me an answer to-morrow.'

But by this time I knew my own heart. I raised ply head and put my
hand on his arm. 'Don't go,' I murmured; 'I will give you the answer
now.'

And the answer never got put into words, for with his strong arm round
me all doubts vanished, and I knew that no one on earth occupied such a
position in my heart as he did.

'I don't know what General Forsyth will say,' I said, a little time
after, when I heard the first gong sound for dinner.

'I had his permission to come to you,' was the reply.

I went into Mrs. Forsyth's boudoir before dinner, but she seemed to
know all about it, and kissed me in a most motherly fashion. 'I can
see what you have come to