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'Has he asked you to , before she answered this question 'I do not think he ever has'

'You do not think?'

'I was going on to explain He never has asked me But he has said that which makes me know that he wishes me to be his wife'

'What has he said? When did he say it?'

Again she paused But again she answered with straightforward simplicity 'Just before you came in, he said--; I don't knohat he said; but it meant that'

'You told me he had been here but a minute'

'It was but very little more If you take me at , mamma It was almost no time, and yet he said it'

'He had co to find you?'

'Psha! He expected nothing of the kind'

'I think you do hi I think his co was an accident, and that what he said was--an accident'

'An accident!'

'It was not intended,--not then, ;-- and so have you It was natural that he should say so ere alone together'

'And you;--what did you say?'

'Nothing You ca should have been so inopportune But I must ask one other question, Hetta What do you intend to say?' Hetta was again silent, and now for a longer space She put her hand up to her brow and pushed back her hair as she thought whether her ht to continue this cross-exa as it had happened She had kept back no deed done, no word spoken, either now or at any tiht to know her thoughts, feeling as she did that she had so little sympathy from her mother 'How do you intend to answer him?' deain'

'That is prevaricating'

'No, mamma;--I do not prevaricate It is unfair to say that to h for you to know that I should never give hi you about it I do love him, and I shall never love any one else'