"You certainly love me with all your heart, John. Well, John dear, I think I love you too!"
"No, no," he said. "You must not; it can't be; 'tisn't in sober reason."
"So much more likely to be real," she answered. "True love is not reasonable, John. And you must fight a great battle for me, because all the world is against us."
"The world—the world's here—here! The rest I can put under my foot and forget. You love me—oh! Grace, my star—is it true?"
"Yes, for I've never felt so before, and I've done almost everything but fall in love in my time. 'Tis quite a new thing—sure it must be love; for what other name is there to give it? I love your beautiful face, and your voice, and your gentle ways; and I love you best of all for loving me, John."
"Every living thing loves you," he said solemnly. "Yet you can come to a useless, poor, humble man like me, and trust me with yourself!"
"Yes, I trust you, John," she said with gravity equal to his. "I know not what may betide; but you must stand between me and—and that man. Do you love me well enough to run risks and dangers for me?"
"May time prove it!"
"Your love is shield and buckler both to me," she said.
"And yours such a blessing as God Almighty never poured into any life before," he answered earnestly. "'Tis my prayer henceforth that I may lift myself up to be worthy."