I am in your and Alwyn's
welfare. But forgive me, Greta, if I ask one question. Are you sure,
are you perfectly sure, that this step will be for your happiness----"

Then Greta looked at her in surprise, and there was a reproachful
expression in her grey eyes.

"Sure! when I have loved him all these months. My dear Olive, what can
you mean? Alwyn is the only man I could ever marry."

"Oh, how it relieves me to hear you say that Dear Greta, I am so fond
of you both. Alwyn is charming; but until you said that I was afraid
to congratulate you. You know my views on this subject, dear. Do you
remember how we talked on the beach at Eastbourne? I am afraid that
more than once I made you a little sad; but I was thinking of this. I
knew then in my own mind that Alwyn had begun to care for you, and I
wanted you to have plenty of time for consideration."

"Oh, yes; you made your meaning clear to me even then," returned Greta,
smiling; "but, indeed, no consideration was necessary. When Alwyn came
to me and said quite simply that he loved me and wanted me to be his
wife, I just put my hand in his without a word. It almost shocked me
to see his gratitude. He kept saying over and over again that he was
not worthy of me; that he knew he had done nothing to win my respect,
and I should not be able to look up to him. Oh, Olive, he quite broke
down when he said this, but I soon comforted him. 'I only remember two
things,' I said to him,--'that you love me, and that you need me.' And
after that we understood each other."

"Dearest Greta. Aunt Madge was right when she told me that you were
born into the world to be somebody's crutch."

"Did she say that?" and Greta's eyes had a dreamy look in them; "but I
tell Alwyn that I mean to lean on him. Indeed, Olive, you must not
undervalue him. Alwyn is stronger than you think. He has repented
truly and deeply of all his boyish mistakes, and those who love him
should utterly and for ever wipe out the record of his past. See how
devotedly his father loves him; his forgiveness was absolute."

"Dear, you need not say any more;" and Olivia embraced her with tears
in her eyes. "I can only wish you all the happiness you deserve."

"In that case my happiness would be little enough; but, of course, I
know what you mean. And, Olive, for the first time in my life I can
say with truth that I have found my vocation. It will be such a
privilege to be allowed to take care of Alwyn;