"There! you will find it scarcely more legible than a crumpled, scratched page. Read on: only make haste, for I suffer."

     His face was very much agitated and very much flushed, and there were strong workings in the features, and strange gleams in the eyes.

     "Oh, Jane, you torture me!" he exclaimed. "With that searching and yet faithful and generous look, you torture me!"

     "How can I do that? If you are true, and your offer real, my only feelings to you must be gratitude and devotion--they cannot torture."

     "Gratitude!" he ejaculated; and added wildly--"Jane accept me quickly. Say, Edward--give me my name--Edward--I will marry you."

     "Are you in earnest? Do you truly love me? Do you sincerely wish me to be your wife?"

     "I do; and if an oath is necessary to satisfy you, I swear it."

     "Then, sir, I will marry you."

     "Edward--my little wife!"

     "Dear Edward!"