ere was very sensible apprehension on his face as
he looked to Giles.

'You came, Christian.

'You took the place in heart and home that might have come to be little
Rhoda's, as I hoped.

'You came from the sea that had taken our own, and so the wife said it
was the hand of God. I thought the hand of God pointed otherwise.
Christian, what say you?'

He could answer nothing: Giles waited, but he could not.

'You will take care of my little maid as I want?'

'I cannot! ah, I cannot!'

'All these years Rhoda has wanted a home as I think because of you; and
because of you I could not hope for the wife's heart to open to her.'

'She should hate me! you should!' said Christian. His face was scared.

'You can make ample amends--oh! ample; and Rhoda will count the wants of
her youth blessed that shall lay the rest of her days to your keeping.
She will--Christian, are you so blind?--she will.

'Ah, dear lad! I got so well contented that the wife had had her way and
had taken you, when I saw what the just outcome should be; and saw her
shaping in the dark towards the happy lot of the sweet little slip she
ignored. Long back it began, when you were but a little chap. Years
before you set eyes on her, Rhoda had heard of you.

'In the end I could fit out no plan for you to light on her; and a grubby
suitor was bargaining for her, so I had to make a risky cast. She was to
enter as a passing stranger I had asked to rest. The wife fell on her
neck, before a word. Well, well, what poor fools we had both been!

'Christian, why do you say No?'

'I wish her better.'

'But she loves you! I swear she loves you! And I, O good Lord! I have
done my best to set her affections on you. How shall I lie still in the
grave while her dear heart is moaning for its hurt, and 'tis I that have
wrought it.'

To a scrupulous nature the words of Giles brought cruel distress.
Christian's eyes took to following Rhoda, though never a word of wooing
went to her. In the end he spoke.

'Dear Rhoda,' he said, and stopped; but instantly she looked up startled.
His eyes were on the ground.

'Rhoda, I love you dearly. Will you be my wife?'

She grew white as death, and stayed stone-still, breathless. Then he
looked at her, stood up, and repeated resolutely: 'Rhoda, dearest, will
you be my wife?'

She rose to confront him, and brought out her answer:

'No.'

He stared at her a moment in stupid bewilderment.

'You will not be my wife?' he sa