hocked; and it is so cruel to your father.
I will be engaged to you in a way. I will promise--I will vow, if you
will--never to marry any one else."

"I should think not," interrupted Dick, fiercely. "I would murder the
fellow, whoever he was!" and in spite of himself his thought reverted
to the fair beard and handsome face of the young clergyman.

Nan saw from his obstinate face that her eloquence was all wasted; but
she made one more attempt, blushing like a rose:

"I will even promise to marry you, if your father gives his consent.
You know, Dick, I would never go against him."

"Nor I. You ought to know me better, Nan, than to think I should act
shabbily and leave the dear old fellow in the dark."

"Then you will set me free," marvelling a little over her lover's good
sense and filial submission.

"As free as an engagement permits. Why, what do you mean, Nan? Have I
not just told you we are engaged for good and all? Do you suppose I do
not mean to tell my father so on the first opportunity? There he
comes! bless the man, I knew he would follow me! Now you shall see how
I can stick up for the girl I love." But Dick thought it better to
release the hand he had been holding all this time.

There are certain moments in life when one is in too exalted a mood to
feel the usual sensations that circumstances might warrant. At another
time Nan would have been shocked at the condition of her work-room,
being a tidy little soul, and thrifty as to pins and other odds and
ends; and the thought of Mr. Mayne coming upon them unexpectedly would
have frightened her out of her senses.

The room was certainly not in its usual order. There had been much
business transacted there that morning. The table was strewn with
breadths of gay _broche_ silk; an unfinished gauzy-looking dress hung
over a chair; the door of the wardrobe was open, and a row of
dark-looking shapes--like Bluebeard's decapitated wives--were dimly
revealed to view. A sort of lay figure, draped in calico, was in one
corner. As Nan observed to Phillis afterwards, "There was not a tidy
corner in the whole room."

Nevertheless, the presence of Dick so glorified the place that Nan
looked around at the chaos quite calmly, as she heard Mr. Mayne's
sharp voice first inquiring for her mother and then for herself.
Dorothy, with her usual tact, would have shown him into the little
parlor; but Nan, who wished for no disguise, stepped forward and threw
open the door.