“Erminie,” he said, bending over her and gazing and speaking with an earnestness approaching solemnity, “Erminie, do you really, really love me?”
She looked up at him with a frightened aspect, and answered slowly:
“Oh, you know I do! You cannot doubt me! What made you ask such a question?”
“Because, my beloved, I am about to put your love to a terrible test!” he replied, with an agitation that powerfully appealed to her sympathies.
“That is just what I wish you to do! what I pray you to do! Put my love to any test—any! so that I may prove to you how truly I love you—how much I would do for you!” she answered, in a low, fervent, faltering voice; and blushing intensely at her own temerity, even while feeling so anxious to reassure her lover.
“Erminie, the test by which I shall prove your love will be the severest test by which the love of a nature like yours could possibly be tried.”
“It will not be too severe for mine! I invoke the trial! I invoke it!”
“Erminie, do you love me enough to henceforth cast your lot with mine, for good and evil, for time and eternity?”
“Ah, yes, yes, yes! But that is not the test, for surely every woman loves her betrothed as much as that! But I love you, oh, so much more!” she murmured, hiding her face in his caressing hands.
“You love me enough to forsake all and follow me?”