to be named together!'

'Or you and Percy!'

They laughed, and Theodora then spoke with deep feeling. 'It does
surprise me, Arthur, but it is the more pleasure. He has known me all my
life, and sees there is less humbug in me than in other women. He knows
I have a heart.'

'That scientific discovery is his reason. Now for yours.'

'Because he understands me.'

'So your partnership is founded on a stock of mutual understanding!
I devoutly hope it is; for my notion is that Percy will stand no
nonsense.'

'Of course not.'

'It remains to be proved how you will like that.'

'I am not given to nonsense.'

Arthur whistled.

'That means that I will not yield when I am not convinced.'

'And he will make you.'

'He will never be unreasonable,' exclaimed Theodora.

'It does not follow that you will not.'

'That is unjust. I yield where duty, good sense, or affection make it
needful.'

'Oho! Affection! That is like other people. Now I see some hope of you.'

'Did you think I would have had him without it?'

'Certainly, it is the only explanation. You will not find being wife to
a scrub of an attache the same thing as being Miss Martindale.'

'I am glad of it. My mind revolts at the hollowness of my present life.'

'Well done!' ejaculated Arthur.

'I do,' said Theodora, vehemently. 'Ours has never been a home; it was
all artificial, and we had separate worlds. You and I amalgamated best;
but, oh! Arthur, you never cared for me as I did for you. The misery
of my life has been want of affection. Any one who loved me could have
guided me at will. You doubt! You don't know what is in me! How I felt
as if I would work night and day at my lessons, if they were ever to be
heard by mamma! I remember once, after a day's naughtiness, lying awake,
sobbing, and saying, again and again, half aloud, "I would be good if
they would love me!"'

'No one would have thought such fancies were in a wild colt like you.'

'I would not have had them guessed for worlds. Then came that one gleam
of Helen. It was a new life; but it could not last. She went back, and I
cannot say things in letters. She told me to talk to John, but he was of
no use. He has always despised me.'

'I don't think you are right there.'

'He would help me in trouble, but I am nothing to him. You were all I
had, and when you gave yourself away from me I was left alone with the
heart-ache, and began to think myself born to live without love.'

'In spite