George's feelings had been too deeply stirred to allow him to return jest for jest at a moment's notice.
"Oh, father, how can I thank you!" he said.

"And you! and you!" he added, looking at Owen and Morgan gratefully.
"You must thank Chance as well as thank us," I replied, speaking as lightly as my heart would let me, to encourage him.

"The advantage of numbers in our little love-plot was all on our side.

Remember, George, we were three to one." While I was speaking the breakfast-room door opened noiselessly, and showed us Jessie standing on the threshold, uncertain whether to join us or to run back to her own room.

Her bright complexion heightened to a deep glow; the tears just rising in her eyes, and not yet falling from them; her delicate lips trembling a little, as if they were still shyly conscious of other lips that had pressed them but a few minutes since; her attitude irresolutely graceful; her hair just disturbed enough over her forehead and her cheeks to add to the charm of them--she stood before us, the loveliest living picture of youth, and tenderness, and virgin love that eyes ever looked on.