of her thoughts. For, looking in her face, he felt
forced to acknowledge that whatever doubts he had ever cherished in
reference to the character of this remarkable girl, upon one point he
was perfectly clear, and this was, that she was at basis honorable in
her instincts, and would never do herself or another a real injustice.
If a distinct wrong or even a secret of an unhappy or debasing nature
lay between them, he knew that nothing, not even the bitterest necessity
or the most headlong passion, would ever drive her into committing the
dishonor of marrying him.

No; if with his declaration in her ears, and with his eyes fixed upon
hers, she should give any token of her willingness to accept his
addresses, he felt he might know, beyond doubt or cavil, that whatever
womanish excitability may have moved her in her demonstrations that day,
they certainly arose from no private knowledge or suspicion detrimental
to his future peace or to hers.

Bracing himself, therefore, to meet any result that might follow his
attempt, he drew her gently toward him and determinedly addressed her.

"Imogene, I told you at the gate that I had something to say to you. So
I have; and though it may not be wholly unexpected to you, yet I doubt
if it would have left my lips to-night if the events of the day had not
urged me to offer you my sympathy and protection."

He paused, almost sickened; at that last phrase she had grown so
terribly white and breathless. But something in her manner,
notwithstanding, seemed to encourage him to proceed, and smothering his
doubts, trampling, as it were, upon his rising apprehensions, he calmed
down his tone and went quietly on:

"Imogene, I love you."

She did not shrink.

"Imogene, I want you for my wife. Will you listen to my prayer, and make
my home forever happy with your presence?"

Ah, now she showed feeling; now she started and drew back, putting out
her hands as if the idea he had advanced was insupportable to her. But
it was only for a moment. Before he could say to himself that it was all
over, that his worst fears had been true, and that nothing but the sense
of some impassable gulf between them could have made her recoil from him
like this, she had dropped her hands and turned toward him with a look
whose deep inquiry and evident struggle after an understanding of his
claims, spoke of a mind clouded by trouble, but not alienated from
himself by fear.

She did not speak, however,--not fo