azed me; and before commencing to
read she crushed the letter in her hands, pressing it to her heart with
a gesture which was less of a caress than of a spasm.

"However, as she read, all this changed; and before she finished said,
'Ah, Willie, it is clear your cause needs no advocate.' Positively, I
did not know a human countenance could express such happiness; there was
something in it absolutely dazzling. And evidently entirely forgetful of
me, she raised the paper to her mouth, and kissed it again and again,
pressing her lips upon it with such clinging and passionate fondness as
would have imbued it with life were that possible."

Here Willie flung down his aunt's epistle and tore from his pocket this
self-same letter. He had kept it,--carried it about with him,--for two
reasons: because it was _hers_, he said,--this avowal of his love was
hers, whether she refused it or no, and he had no right to destroy her
property; and because, as he had nothing else she had worn or touched,
he cherished this sacredly since it had been in her dear hands.

Now he took it into his clasp as tenderly as though it were Francesca's
face, and kissed it with the self-same clinging and passionate fondness
as this of which he had just read. Here had her lips rested,--here; he
felt their fragrance and softness thrilling him under the cold, dead
paper, and pressed it to his heart while he continued to read:--

"Before she turned, I walked to another window,--wishing to give her
time to recover calmness, or at least self-control, and was at once
absorbed in contemplating a gentleman whom I felt assured to be Mr.
Ercildoune. He stood with his back to me, apparently giving some order
to the coachman: thus I could not see his face, but I never before was
so impressed with, so to speak, the personality of a man. His physique
was grand, and his air and bearing magnificent, and I watched him with
admiration as he walked slowly away. I presume he passed the window at
which she was standing, for she called, 'Papa!' 'In a moment, dear,' he
answered, and in a moment entered, and was presented; and I, raising my
eyes to his face,--ah, how can I tell you what sight they beheld!

"Self-possessed as I think I am, and as I certainly ought to be, I
started back with an involuntary exclamation, a mingling doubtless of
incredulity and disgust. This man, who stood before me with all the ease
and self-assertion of a gentleman, was--you will never believe it,