"I couldn't have believed it.

I wouldn't believe it now but for your eyes;" and before she could prevent him he had placed a kiss upon her lips.
Miss Wildmere had seen the unknown beauty as she passed, had inventoried her with woman's instantaneous perception, had paused on the distant threshold and seen the greeting, then had vanished with a vindictive flash in her gray eyes.
Graydon's impetuous words and salute had produced smiles and envious glances, and the family party withdrew into a retired corner of the apartment, Madge's cheeks, meanwhile, vying, in spite of herself, with the rose on her breast.

Graydon would not relinquish her hand, and, as Mrs.Muir had predicted, indulged in little more than exclamation points.
"There now, be rational," cried the young girl, laughing, her heart for the moment full of gladness and triumph.

He was indeed bending upon her looks of admiration, delight, and affection.
"Why have I been kept in the dark about all this ?" he at last asked, incoherently.
"For the same reason that we were.

Madge meant to give us a surprise, and succeeded.