It seemed to me, however, as I shared the merry meal, and saw the faces of my own people looking their best and brightest, either that there was no room for Cousin Tom in my heart, or that his footing in it was so well-established that he was part of me already. I have thought of that happy evening often since, and I am quite sure now that the reason I gave so little separate thought to my cousin was, because I knew him so well. After supper my father, George, Hetty, and Jack went off to explore the house. George was very polite to his new sister Hetty, and my father was glad to renew his intercourse with Jack. "You will come with us, won't you, Valentine?" asked George of my cousin. "I will follow you in a few moments," he answered. George went away, and Tom and I were alone. He came up to me at once. "I wish you quite to understand," he said, speaking in a very composed and guarded sort of fashion, "that I don't intend to take advantage of anything you may say on impulse. I love you; I loved you before I knew a word of that strange will of our old kinsman's. The first day I saw you I felt that you were different from other women. Well, that is all. I think you believe me. I don't want to say anything more on this matter at present. If Cousin Geoffrey had not made his queer will, I should have pressed my suit. As it is, I cannot. "What I want to tell you now, however, is this, that you are absolutely free to choose your own time to marry me. There is to be no hurry, and no constraint is to be put upon you. I understand from Gray that you have yielded to the conditions of our cousin's will for your mother's sake. Gray is a right good fellow, and he appreciates your spirit of self-sacrifice. He has made it possible for us two to delay our marriage, and yet for your mother and your people not to suffer." "I know," I answered, "I know. Mr Gray told me himself. But I--I don't wish that." "You don't wish to delay our marriage?" "No; come up-stairs and see mother." I took his hand before he could prevent me. I ran up the wide stairs holding it. Still clasping it in mine, I entered my mother's room. She looked up at the sound of our feet. Her eyes rested on our faces-- Cousin Tom's pale, mine flushed. Then the pink glow deepened on her cheeks. She held out her hands to us both. "Come," I said to my cousin. He followed me, and my mother laid her little hand in his. "Mother," I said, "this is my cousin, Tom Valentine; we are going to marry each other." "My dear Rose, my child!" "There is no hurry," murmured Tom. "There is every hurry," I repeated; "we--we love each other." "Rosamund!" interrupted my cousin. "We love each other," I continued, steadily, "as much as any two people could. There is no reason why we should delay our marriage." "As that is the case, there is no reason what ever," Tom Valentine said now. And he put his arm quite boldly round my waist.