them slowly, when I ran to her, and offered her my arm on the plea that
her ankle was still too weak to bear her weight unsupported.

"Olivia!" I exclaimed, after we had gone a few yards, bringing her and
myself to a sudden halt. Then I was struck dumb. I had nothing special
to say to her. How was it I had called her so familiarly Olivia?

"Well, Dr. Martin?" she said, looking into my face again with eager,
inquiring eyes, as if she was wishful to understand my varying moods if
she could.

"What a lovely place this is!" I ejaculated.

More lovely than any words I ever heard could describe. It was a perfect
day, and a perfect view. The sea was like an opal, changing every minute
with the passing shadows of snow-white clouds which floated lazily
across the bright blue of the sky. The cliffs, Sark Cliffs, which have
not their equal in the world, stretched below us, with every hue of gold
and bronze, and hoary white, and soft gray; and here and there a black
rock, with livid shades of purple, and a bloom upon it like a raven's
wing. Rocky islets, never trodden by human foot, over which the foam
poured ceaselessly, were dotted all about the changeful surface of the
water. And just beneath the level of my eyes was Olivia's face--the
loveliest thing there, though there was so much beauty lying around us.

"Yes, it is a lovely place," she assented, a mischievous smile playing
about her lips.

"Olivia," I said, taking my courage by both hands, "it is only a month
now till my wedding-day."

Was I deceiving myself, or did she really grow paler? It was but for a
moment if it were so. But how cold the air felt all in an instant! The
shock was like that of a first plunge into chilly waters, and I was
shivering through every fibre.

"I hope you will be happy," said Olivia, "very happy. It is a great risk
to run. Marriage will make you either very happy or very wretched."

"Not at all," I answered, trying to speak gayly; "I do not look forward
to any vast amount of rapture. Julia and I will get along very well
together, I have no doubt, for we have known one another all our lives.
I do not expect to be any happier than other men; and the married people
I have known have not exactly dwelt in paradise. Perhaps your experience
has been different?"

"Oh, no!" she said, her hand trembling on my arm, and her face very
downcast; "but I should have liked you to be very, very happy."

So softly spoken, with such a low, faltering vo