Then and there, accordingly, Captain Hector Coles, with Mrs. Burton Hayley very near and the granite rocks still nearer, possessed himself suddenly of Margaret Hayley's white hand, drew her close to him, and murmured:
"Oh, how long I have waited for this hour, Margaret! I love you. I have not before said the same thing in words, for a long time, but I believe that you must have seen and known how the old affection has still lived and strengthened. There have been bitter words between us, occasionally, but they have not affected the true feeling lying beneath, and—"
"Stop, Hector Coles!" said Margaret, before he had concluded. "You say that there have been bitter words between us occasionally. Now let me warn you that no bitter word I have ever said in your hearing, has been any thing more than a baby's whisper to what I will say if you ever dare to allude to this subject again!"
"But, Margaret—"
"No, not another word! Mother, come here!"
Mrs. Burton Hayley obeyed.
"Mother, is it with your wish or approbation that Captain Coles has just made me another offer of his heart?"
"Certainly it is," the Captain commenced to answer.
"Stop! it was not to you I put the question, but to my mother!"
"Well, my daughter—I certainly did—that is—I—"