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they had been for some moments, only broken by the children's distant calls, till the fervent words broke from him, 'May I not speak now?'
No word of reply sounded, but the delicate lips quivered and parted; the eyes were cast down, and seemed to swim in a soft mist of brightness; the queenly head bent, and the roseate tint on the cheek deepened and spread, while something came over the face that caused the low glad exclamation, 'You sweetest, I do believe you can love me!'
A tremulous smile, a glitter of tears on the eye-lashes--a whisper, 'You won't let me be able to help it!'
Then the hands were clasped, and no words but 'Thank you' would come to the young man's lips ; and then, and the sound reminded him, he bowed his head, adding, 'Thank God!'
'Thank God!' echoed Wilmet softly. 'For indeed,' she added, as she let her eyes fully meet his ardent gaze, 'I know you will help me to do whatever may be His Will.
'He helping me,' said John Harewood; and there was a reverent silence of untold peace and bliss, first interrupted by his long sigh of infinite relief and joy, and then, as he looked and looked with all his soul in his eyes, an exclamation, almost in spite of himself, 'You beautiful creature, you are mine indeed!'
Her colour deepened, but her lips moved into an odd little smile, out of which came the words, 'Isn't that rather foolish?'
'I couldn't help it--I beg your pardon,' said he, reddening. 'You do look so lovely! but indeed it is not the externals only, but what looks through.'
'And that is what makes me afraid,' said Wilmet, as the dew gathered on her eye-lashes. 'I don't think I'm so nice as you take me for.'
'Probably you don't,' he said, smiling.
'But just hear me,' she said, laying her hand on his, as if to silence him. 'You ought to know what all the others would tell you if they were not too kind. I know they all feel me strict, and managing and domineering! Yes, it makes you laugh, but I really am. I don't think yo