She clung to him, she lifted her quivering lips to his.
"Say it again, just once, darling?" cried Tom, shaking back his tawny locks with energy. "Is this love downright, honest, whole-hearted love?"
"Yes, yes!"
"God bless you, darling! And when was it? about what time did it begin?"
She answered him honestly, but with a faltering voice:
"Oh, Tom, I'm afraid it wasn't till after you got so rich. Don't think hard of it; I do love beautiful things so much—but indeed, indeed I love you more."
"Then I'm glad the old covey left me all his money. I don't care a d—— red cent why you love me, only I must be sure that it's a fixed fact. Now I'll go straight out and tell Bessie."
Elsie turned cold.
"Oh, Tom, she'll never consent to it."
"Won't she! I'd just like to know why?"