“I love, I love you, my own darling, and I want you to be my own little wife.”
They looked into each other’s eyes solemnly, and Biddy crept to a chair and sat down.
Nellie walked to her lover and laid her hands in his.
“I shall count it one of the greatest honors of my life to be your wife,” said she, “and I love you, Tom Cooper.”
Then they talked, Biddy leaving them alone, and Tom explained everything save that the island was a prison. Her mother was given the highest of eulogies.
“I knew her when she was a little girl, although she was older than I. I loved her very dearly. Now then, you have one second cousin living, but your mother did not want to have him ever see you, or to let him know of your existence. He has the fortune which you ought to have.”
“My fortune?” asked Nellie wonderingly.
“Yes,” and slowly the girl understood why this same cousin should want to get her out of the way and should want to kill the little child who had never done him any harm.
As they were finishing their love-making Biddy came in with a great noise.
“If you children won’t mind,” said she, giving Tom a wink, “I’m going to bed; I’m so tired.”