"What is it?" Her heart beat rapidly as she spoke, for although she could not see his face in the darkness, she guessed from the tones of his voice that he was about to say all which she desired to hear.
"Can't you guess?" He came a step nearer and spoke softly.
Beatrice, feeling strange, as was natural considering the circumstance, laughed in an embarrassed manner. "How can I guess?"
"Because you must have seen what I meant in my eyes, Beatrice. I want you to be my wife."
Her heart beat loudly as though it would give Vivian its answer without speech.
"I don't understand," she said abruptly.
"Surely you must have seen----"
"Oh yes, I saw," she interrupted rapidly, "I saw that you loved me. I also saw that you held back from asking me to marry you."
"I had a reason," he said, after a pause; "that reason is now removed, and I can ask you, as I do with all my heart and soul, to be my wife. Dearest, I love you."
"Can I believe that?"