Page 313 - The snake's pass

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A GRIM WARNING. — 301
"I would like to have come out to meet you, but I
!
thought you would rather meet me here " Then, as we
went into the sitting-room, hand-in-hand, she whispered
again :
" Aunt has gone to buy groceries, so we are all alone.
You must tell me all about everything."
We sat down close together, still hand-in-hand, and
I told her all that we had done since I had left. When
I had finished the Paris part of the story, she put up
her hands before her face, and I could see the tears drop
through her fingers.
" Norah ! Nbrah ! Don't cry, my darling ! What is
.
it?"
u
Oh, Arthur, I can't help it ! It is so wonderful
more than all I ever longed or wished for ! " Then she
took her hands away, and put them in mine, and looked
me bravely in the face, with her eyes half-laughing and
half-crying, and her cheeks wet, and said:
"Arthur, you are the Fairy Prince ! There is nothing
that I can wish for that you have not done—even my
dresses are ready by your sweet thoughtfuln ess. It needs
an effort, dear, to let you do all this—but I see it is quite
right—I must be dressed like one who is to be your wife.
I shall think I am pleasing you afresh, every time I put
one of them on ; but I must pay for them myself. You
know I am quite rich now. I have all the money you
paid for the Cliff Fields; father says it ought to go in
such things as will fit me for my new position, and will
not hear of taking any of it."