"Do you know, my darling"—he paused, and repeated softly, "my darling!—my very, very own!" And then he lost himself, and forgot for a moment what he had intended to say.
"Well, Fred?"
"Well what, Phœbe?"
"You were saying, 'Do you know—'"
"Oh, yes. I said, 'Do you know.' What came afterward?"
"My darling!" she said, in a delicious whisper.
It was enough to make him forget himself again; and he did; but he presently took up the thread.
"Do you know, my darling, I have an idea that Fanny sent me here for a purpose—bless her kind heart!"
"For what purpose?"
"For this." He pressed her closer to him.