"Little darling!" he said, fondly, "I feel more attached to her than ever since I went away—she seems more like my daughter than my sister."
"And she loves you very dearly, you may be sure of that."
"Oh, yes; nothing could ever come between Elsie and me! I have thought of the promise I made our dying mother; I have kept it, Elizabeth—wherever else I have erred, I have kept that vow."
"Yes," she said; "yes."
But the tone grew a little absent, her eyes wandered about the room as if she were perplexed anew by some thought far away from the subject of their conversation.
"You have been happy and content here, Elizabeth?"
"Not happy," she answered, "I forced myself to be patient; but the time seemed very long."
"Then you do love me?" he cried, suddenly.
She looked at him reproachfully, with some pain stirring under that reproach.
"Can you ask me such questions now?"