When I thought that you were drowned it nearly broke my heart, and often and often I wished that I were dead, too!" It was Augusta's turn to be disturbed now, for, though a lady's composure will stand her in good stead up to the very verge of an affair of this sort, it generally breaks down _in medias res_.

Anyhow, she certainly dropped her eyes and colored to her hair, while her breast began to heave tumultuously.
"Do you know, Mr.Meeson," she said at last, without daring to look at his imploring face, "that this is only the fourth time that we have seen each other, including yesterday." "Yes, I know," he said; "but don't refuse me on that, account; you can see me as often as you like"-- (this was generous of Master Eustace)--"and really I know you better than you think.

I should think that I have read each of your books twenty times." This was a happy stroke, for, however free from vanity a person may be, it is not in the nature of a young woman to hear that somebody has read her book twenty times without being pleased.
"I am not my books," said Augusta.
"No; but your books are part of you," he answered, "and I have learnt more about your real self through them than I should have done if I had seen you a hundred times instead of four." Augusta slowly raised her grey eyes till they met his own, and looked at him as though she were searching out his soul, and the memory of that long, sweet look is with him yet.
He said no more, nor had she any words; but somehow nearer and nearer they drew one to the other, till his arms were around her, and his lips were pressed upon her lips.

Happy man and happy girl! they will live to find that life has joys (for those who are good and are well off) but that it has no joys so holy and so complete as that which they were now experiencing--the first kiss of true and honest love.
A little while afterwards the butler came in in a horribly sudden manner, and found Augusta and Eustace, the one very red and the other very pale, standing suspiciously close to each other.

But he was a very well-trained butler and a man of experience, who had seen much and guessed more; and he looked innocent as a babe unborn.
Just then, too, Lady Holmhurst came in again and looked at the pair of them with an amusing twinkle in her eye.