She was good, too, as beautiful; and it was this very goodness which won on Hugh so fast, making him pray often that he might be worthy of her--for, Alice, he came at last to dream that he could win her; she was so kind to him--she spoke to him so softly, and, by a thousand little acts, endearing herself to him more and more.
"Heaven forgive her if she misled him all this while; but she did not.
It were worse than death to think she did--to know I've told you this in vain--have offered you my heart only to have it thrust back upon me as something you do not want.

Speak, Alice! in mercy, speak! Can it be that I'm mistaken ?" Alice saw how she had unwittingly led him on, and her white lips quivered with pain.

Lifting up her head at last, she exclaimed: "You don't mean me, Hugh! Oh, you don't mean me ?" "Yes, darling," and he clasped in his own the hand raised imploringly toward him.

"Yes, darling, I mean you.

Will you be my wife ?" Alice had never before heard a voice so earnest, so full of meaning, as the one now pleading with her to be what she could not be.