"Mr. Elliot!" exclaimed Nellie.
"I have come back," he said, still clasping her hand in both his; "and I want to know if you can forgive me for going away and leaving you all these years?"
"I have nothing to forgive," answered Nellie, trembling violently, and sitting down.
"I am afraid you have. Such hard, bitter thoughts at first. Such a hurry to go and leave you, and try to forget you. But after a while I came to better feelings."
Nellie bent her head lower, but knew not what to say.
"But I have come back, Nellie. I may call you Nellie now, may I not? I have waited a long time, and I have come to ask again. Can you tell me now whether, as I have loved you so long, you can love me?"
"I did not mean to be unkind then," she said softly.
"I am sure you did not. Come, Nellie, it has been such a long weary time; can you not make me happy at last?"
"I will try to," she said, whispering low.
And then Wilmot knew that he had obtained his heart's desire.