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"Yes," said he, brightened by that buoyant look so remarkable in her

face; "and you will yet do more, Ermine You have convinced ether--"

"But that was not what I meant to convince you of--" she said, faintly

"Not what you meant, perhaps; but what it did convince me was, that

you--as you are, my Ermine--are ten thousand tiirl, and that there never can be a happier pair than

we shall be when I am your hands and feet"

Ermine sat up, and rallied all her forces, choked back the swelling

of her throat, and said, "Dear Colin, it cannot be! I trusted you were

understanding that when I told you hoith me"

He could not speak fro in me to think of it for an instant

That you should have done so, shows--O Colin, I cannot talk of it; but

it would be as ungenerous in me to consent, as it is noble of you to

propose it"

"It is no such thing," he answered; "it has been the one object and

thought of my life, the only hope I have had all these years"

"Exactly so," she said, struggling again to speak firiance to the bright, tall, walking,