"
"Indeed, you have been very patient and forbearing," she returned, "and
would never have been cross to me if I hadn't provoked you beyond
endurance. I have been very bad to you, dear Ned, but if you'll keep me
and love me I'll try to behave better."
"I'll do both," he said, holding her closer and repeating his caresses.
"Oh, I'm so glad, so glad!" she cried, with the tears running over her
cheeks, "so glad I have to weep for joy. And I've been breaking my heart
since you went away and left me in anger and without one word of good-by."
"My poor darling, it was too cruel," he sighed; "but I found I could not
stand it any more than you, so had to come back to make it up with you.
And I frightened you terribly down there at the door, did I not?"
"O Ned," she murmured, hiding her blushing face on his breast, "how very
good you are to be so loving and kind when you have a right to be angry
and stern with me. You haven't even asked me what I was doing down there
in the night."
"Your note explained that," he said in moved tones, thinking how great
must have been the distress that led to such an act, "and I fear I am as
deserving of reproof as yourself.
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