sked her.

"What I want," I said, "is for you to go quietly to Miss Naomi, and tell
her that Jasper Pennington is in great danger, and that he must see her
before he leaves this part of the world."

"Wot, be 'ee goin' away, then?" cried Tryphena.

"I must," I said; "now go quickly."

When she had gone I saw how unreasonable my request was. Would not Naomi
be justified in arousing the house, and would she not at the least
refuse to come and see me? And yet all the while I waited with a great
hope in my heart, for love gives hope, and I loved Naomi like my own
life. For all this, I worried myself by thinking that I did not tell
Tryphena anything whereby she could induce Naomi to come to me. For what
should she care about my danger, save as she might care about the danger
of a thousand more for whom she could do nothing?

And so I waited with an anxious heart, and when at length I heard
footsteps my bosom seemed too small for the mighty beating of my heart.
But it was not my love's footsteps that I heard, but Tryphena's. Perhaps
fellow-feeling had made her kind, for she told me in a kind, sympathetic
way that "Miss Naomi would be down d'reckly."

Now this was more than I had seriously dared to hope. No sooner did I
hear her telling me this joyful news than I felt amazed that I had ever
dreamed of asking for such a thing, while my heart grew heavy at the
thought that I had no sufficient reason for asking to see Naomi.

In less than five minutes later Naomi came into the kitchen. She looked
pale, and thin, I thought, but she was beauteous beyond all words. I am
not going to try and describe her. I am not gifted in writing fine
things, for the pen was nearly a stranger to my hands until I began to
write this history, besides I doubt if any man, great as he may be,
could do justice to Naomi's beauty. I think my heart ceased to beat for
a while, and I know that I stood looking at her stupidly, my tongue
refusing to move.

As for Tryphena, I am sure she understood my feelings, for she went into
the dairy, for the which I determined even then that I would some day
reward her.

"You said you were in danger," said Naomi, speaking first, "and that you
wanted to see me. You have asked a hard thing, but I have come."

"Miss Naomi," I said, in a low, hoarse voice, "forgive my forwardness,
for truly I am unworthy this honour, yet believe me I could not help it.
Will you sit down, so that I may try and tell you what is in my h