of an hour, "pray
what can be the subject of your thoughts?"

I am frank by nature as well as by name; and so, turning to my fair
inquisitor, I said, "you know, Ellen, that I am very young yet."

"Yes, Frank."

"And that people at my age very often do not know their own minds."

"Yes, Frank."

"Well, Ellen, I think _now_ that I love you very dearly; and if I were
five years older, and felt as I now do, and you were willing, I would
marry you right away; but I am young, and may be deceived, and so may
deceive you. Now, Ellen, if I should ask you if you loved me, would
you tell me?"

"Yes, Frank," said Ellen, very faintly.

"And do you?" I asked; and, like Brutus, paused for a reply.

"Yes, Frank, I like you very much."

"Is that all? _Like_, is a very cold word. Do you love me?"

"Yes, Frank," whispered Ellen, leaning her forehead against my
shoulder. "I _think_ I do; _you_ wouldn't say any more than that."

"That is all I wish you to say, my dear little girl," I replied,
kissing her white neck and shoulders; "now then, listen. I shall
return from India in about two years time, if then we are both of the
same mind as now, we will begin to talk about the wedding-day. What do
you say to that?"

"Yes, dear Frank."

"Thank you, dearest; now look up one minute."

The reader, if he pleases, may supply in this place a few
interjectional kisses from his imagination.

With my arm around Ellen's slender waist, we walked down the shady
alleys of the garden in search of Langley and Mary, but for a while
were unsuccessful; at last I caught a sight of Mary's white dress in a
distant arbor. We approached the bower unperceived by its occupants,
and were upon the point of entering, but we luckily discovered in time
that we should be altogether _de trop_. Langley was on his knees
before the coquettish Mary, making love in his most grandiloquent
style.

"Most adorable creature," quoth my romantic shipmate, thumping his
right side, "you lacerate my heart by your obdurate cruelty!"

"Get up off your knees, you foolish boy," answered the mischievous
girl; "you will certainly stain the knees of your white trowsers."

"Oh! divine goddess! hear me!" persisted my chum, magnanimously
disregarding the welfare of his unwhisperables in the present crisis.

"You idolatrous sailor remember the first commandment."

"The devil fly away with the first commandment!" cried poor Langley,
sorely vexed. "Most lovely of human beings,"