He dropped lightly on one knee beside her. She did not ask him what it was. She looked down.
"You know perfectly well what I am going to say," he continued; "you know what I want most when I come of age—I want my wife—I want you. Margaret, you must have guessed my secret long ago?"
She did not answer him for nearly a minute—then she softly and timidly stretched out one of her hands—he grasped it in his.
"You have guessed—you do know—you're not astonished nor shocked at my words?"
"Your secret was mine, too," she answered in a whisper.
"You will marry me, Margaret—you'll make me the happiest of men?"
"I will be your wife if you wish it, Robert," she replied.
She stood up as she spoke. She was tall, but he was a little taller—he put his arms round her, drew her close to him, and kissed her passionately.
Half-an-hour afterward they left the woods side by side.
"Don't tell anybody to-day," said Margaret.