Lauretta's mother nodded and looked kindly at me, and then turned her eyes of full love upon her daughter, who was sitting by her side. Between me and Lauretta's mother no words had been exchanged with reference to the dear wish of my heart, but without being told I knew that Doctor Louis had imparted to his wife all the particulars of what had passed between us, and that she was aware that I stood in the position of one who desired to win their Home Rose for my wife. There was a new tenderness and solicitude in the mother's looks which deeply moved me. "Then there is another matter," I said, "upon which I hope we shall be in accord. I am mustering up courage to leave you." "I feared, mother," said Lauretta, and it delighted me to note that her voice was tremulous, "that he was growing weary of us. I told him so a little while since, I think." "And my reply was," I said, "that I should be content to remain here for ever; but that can scarcely be. I have no intention of leaving Nerac, however." "Of course not, of course not," said Doctor Louis; "the air here is so fine, so much finer than it is anywhere else--" "Very much finer," I said. "And the fruit is so delicious, so much more delicious than it is anywhere else--" "Much more delicious," I said. "And the skies are so bright, so much brighter than they are anywhere else--" "Much brighter." "And the flowers are so much lovelier, and the stars are so much more brilliant--" "The doctor and I," I said, entering into his mood, and addressing his wife and daughter, "so perfectly agree." They smiled, but in Lauretta's smile there was a tender wistfulness. "Then the people," continued Doctor Louis; "they are so much superior, so much more refined, so much higher--" "Indeed," I said, with a touch of earnestness, "that has been truly proved to me." "No, no," said Doctor Louis, "I am not to be turned from the track by sentiment. It has been left to our young friend to discover--all honour to him--that, taking us altogether, we in the little village of Nerac here are a very exceptional lot. Now, I have only to make this public to bring us an inch nearer to the sun. The least we can do for him is to present him with a testimonial." "Which he is ready to accept," I said gaily; "but, doctor, you omitted to mention one important thing." "What is it?" "My health; it will take a considerable time to establish it, and it cannot be established elsewhere." "A poor compliment to my skill," observed Doctor Louis, quizzically. "Ah, I always thought I was a pretender, but until this moment no one has had the courage to tell me so to my face." "Be serious, Louis," said his wife. "I am dumb," he rejoined, with a comical look.