perhaps, than those who have remained single."

Again there ensued a pause, until Major Harper broke it by saying:

"There is one more question--the last of all--which, after the
confidence you have shown me, I may venture to ask: do I know this
gentleman?"

Agatha replied by putting into his hands his brother's letter.

The moment she had done so she felt remorse for having betrayed her
lover's confidence by letting any eyes save her own rest on his tender
words. Had she loved him as he loved her, she could not possibly have
done so; and even now a painful sensation smote her. She would have
snatched the letter back, but it was too late.

Major Harper's eyes had merely skimmed down the page to the signature,
when he threw it from him, crying out vehemently:

"Impossible! Agatha marry Nathanael--Nathanael marry Agatha!--He is
a boy, a very child! What can he be thinking of? Send his letter
back--tell him it is utter nonsense! Upon my soul it is!"

Major Harper was very shortsighted and inconsiderate when he gave way to
this burst of vexation before any woman--still more before such a woman
as Agatha.

She let him go on without interruption, but she lifted the letter from
the floor, refolded it, and held it tenderly--more tenderly than she
had ever until now felt towards it or its writer. Something of the grave
sweetness belonging to the tie of an affianced wife began to cast its
shadow over her heart.

"Major Harper, when you have quite done speaking, perhaps you will sit
down and hear what I have to say."

Struck by her manner, he obeyed, entreating her pardon likewise, for he
was a gentleman, and felt that he had acted very wrongly.

"Yet surely," he began--until, looking at her, something convinced him
that his arguments were useless. He stretched out his hand again for the
letter, but with a slight gesture which expressed much, Agatha withheld
it. After a pause, he said, meekly enough, as if thoroughly overcome by
circumstances,--"So, it is quite true? You really love my brother?"

"I honour him, as I said, more than I do any man."

"And love him--are you sure you love him?"

"No one," she answered, deeply blushing--"No one but himself has a right
to receive the answer to that question."

"True, true. Pardon me once more. But I am so startled, absolutely
amazed. My brother Nathanael--he that was a baby when I was a grown
man--he to marry--marrying you too--and I----Well; I suppose I am really
growi