y
most intimate friend."

"That's exactly what I complain of," urged my cousin; "that's my great
objection to her, Kate; that's one of the things that I do believe are
driving me out of my senses day by day. You know I don't wish you to
associate with her; you know that I object extremely to your being
seen everywhere in her company. But you don't care: the more I
expostulate the more obstinate and wilful you seem to become."

It is my turn to be angry now.

"Obstinate and wilful indeed!" I repeated, drawing myself up. "I
should like to know what right you have to apply such terms to _me_!
Who gave _you_ authority to choose my society for me, or to determine
where I shall go or what I shall do? You presume on your relationship,
John; you take an ungenerous advantage of the regard and affection
which I have always entertained for you."

John was mollified in an instant.

"_Do_ you entertain regard and affection for me, Kate?" said he; "do
you value my good opinion and consider me as your dearest and best
friend?"

"Of course I do, John," was my reply. "Haven't we known each other
from childhood, and are you not like a brother to me?"

John's face fell a little and his voice shook as he spoke. "Am I never
to be more than a brother to you--never to obtain a greater interest
in you, a larger share of your regard than I have now? Listen to me,
Kate; I have something to tell you, and I can put it off no longer.
This delay, this uncertainty day by day, I do believe will drive me
mad. Kate, I promised Aunt Deborah faithfully that I would never enter
on this subject till you came of age, and you know by your father's
will you don't come of age till you're five-and-twenty. 'By that time,
John,' said my aunt, 'Kate will have seen plenty of others, and be old
enough to know her own mind. If she takes you then, she takes you with
her eyes open, and she won't get tired of you and find out she likes
some one else better. Promise me, John, that you'll wait till then.'
And I did promise, Kate; but I can't keep my word--I can't wait in
this state of anxiety and uncertainty, and perhaps lose you after all.
It's too great a stake to play for if one is to be kept so long in
suspense, and I have resolved to be put out of my pain one way or the
other."

John paused. I had never seen him so excited before. He was quite hot,
though the night was keen and frosty; his arm trembled as mine leant
upon it; and though his cigar was gone ou