His hand had rested lightly upon hers all the time he had been speaking. She had not attempted to withdraw it, and now his fingers closed over it in a firm, loving clasp.
It still lay trembling but unresistingly there; and when, as he bent to look into those drooping eyes, she lifted them to his with one shy glance of answering tenderness, he knew that he had not sued in vain.
“My own darling!” he whispered, passionately, his face flushing with happiness; “you do love me; I read it in your eyes, and the world was never so bright to me as at this moment; but tell me, shall I have what I want—will you give me your promise that, next year, when you have completed your education, instead of going back to England as a teacher, you will go with me as my wife?”
She grew suddenly grave, and lifting an earnest look to his face, said:
“I have told you that I am only a poor girl, with my own fortune to carve out. You have no idea how poor I am, how dependent, how friendless. You, perhaps, have proud relatives; you may occupy a place far above me socially, and your friends might object to your claiming one in my position as your wife.”
“I care nothing for your poverty or dependence, dear,” he returned, tenderly; “it cannot alter the fact that you are the only woman whom I shall ever love well enough to make my wife. But,” he added, with a thoughtful look, “I forget that I am almost a stranger to you—that you know nothing of me, that I have told you nothing——”
“I have not given it a thought,” Star interrupted, earnestly. “I can trust you; I know you are true.”
His face grew radiant.
“You will never regret your trust, my darling,” he said. “I—am an artist, Star, but I believe I can take care of you, and promise you that you shall never know the meaning of the words poor and dependent again. Of course I have friends, and—but I will tell you all about them some other time. I want my promise now—you will give yourself to me, dear?”
“Yes,” she breathed, her scarlet lips parting slightly with a tremulous smile, “by and by, when I am better fitted to be your—wife.”