[ CHAPTER LV.—ON SHAKESPEARE AND ARCHIE BROWN. ]
[ CHAPTER LVI.—ON THE BITTER CRY. ]
[ CHAPTER LVII.—ON THE REJECTED ADDRESSES. ]
A GRAY EYE OR SO.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.—ON A KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORLD.
SHORTLY after noon he was with her. He had left his rooms without touching a morsel of breakfast, and it was plain that such sleep as he had had could not have been of a soothing nature. He was pale and haggard; and she seemed surprised—not frightened, however, for her love was that which casteth out fear—at the way he came to her—with outstretched hands which caught her own, as he said, “My beloved—my beloved, I have a strange word for you—a strange proposal to make. Dearest, can you trust me? Will you marry me—to-morrow—to-day?”