face on his breast. "Never mind, my pet," he said, soothing her with
caresses; "it is a secret between ourselves, and always shall be, unless
you choose to tell it."

"I? No indeed!" she said, drawing a long breath; "I think I should
almost die of mortification if any one else should find it out; but I'm
glad you know it, because if you didn't my conscience wouldn't give me a
bit of peace till I confessed to you."

"Ah! and would that be very difficult?"

"Yes; I don't know how I could ever find courage to make the attempt."

"Are you really so much afraid of me?" he asked, in a slightly aggrieved
tone.

"Yes; for I love you so dearly that your displeasure is perfectly
unendurable," she replied, lifting her head to gaze fondly into his
eyes.

"Ah, is that it, my darling?" he said, in a glow of delight. "I deem
myself a happy man in possessing such a treasure as you and your dear
love. I can hardly reconcile myself to the thought of a separation for
even a few weeks."

"Separation!" she cried, with a start, and in a tone of mingled pain and
incredulity. "What can you mean? But I won't be separated from you; I'm
your wife, and I claim the right to cling to you always, _always_!"

"And I would have you do so, if it could be without a sacrifice of your