I declare my head aches so, I shall go and lie down as soon as ever dinner is over." If this was her plan, Maggie thought she had no time to lose in making her confession.

Frank would be here before her mother got up again to tea.

But she dreaded speaking about her happiness; it seemed as yet so cobweb-like, as if a touch would spoil its beauty.
"Mamma, just wait a minute.

Just sit down in your chair while I tell you something.

Please, dear mamma." She took a stool, and sat at her mother's feet; and then she began to turn the wedding-ring on Mrs.Browne's hand, looking down and never speaking, till the latter became impatient.
"What is if you have got to say, child?
Do make haste, for I want to go up-stairs." With a great jerk of resolution, Maggie said: "Mamma, Frank Buxton has asked me to marry him." She hid her face in her mother's lap for an instant; and then she lifted it up, as brimful of the light of happiness as is the cup of a water-lily of the sun's radiance.
"Maggie--you don't say so," said her mother, half incredulously.