"My darling," said Hilda, "when we love as you and I love each other, presents mean nothing--nothing at all. I know you have no money, dearest little Judy and I think it was so sweet of you not to ask for any. Your present to me is your thoughtfulness; no gift could be sweeter." "Hilda, may I rest my head against your shoulder?" "Of course, darling. Now aren't we cozy?" "We are; I feel warm now, and--and happy. I won't be able to sit like this for a long time again." "Yes you will, for you're coming to stay with us; as soon as ever we get into our house, or our flat, or wherever we shall live, you are to come. One of the very first rooms I shall furnish will be your little bedroom, my Judy." "And then I can sit close to you every night. But oh, Hilda, _he'll_ be there, he won't like it." "Yes, he will; he'll like anything that I like. There is an old proverb that I must repeat for your benefit--'Love me, love my dog.' That means that those whom I love you ought to love." "Ought I? Very well, I'll try to love--Jasper. Anything that you say I'll try to do. Hilda, why does loving a person give pain? I have an ache in my heart--a big ache. There now, what a horrid girl I am! I am making your eyes fill with tears. You shan't be unhappy just when you're going to be made into a beautiful white bride. Sutton says it is unlucky for a bride to cry. You shan't cry, Hilda, you shan't--you mustn't." "But I can't help crying, Judy, when I think that you are unhappy, and when you speak of your love to me as a pain." "I'll never speak of it again. I'll be happy--I won't fret--no, I won't fret at all, and I won't cry even once," said the child, making a valiant effort to bring a smile to her face. "Hilda, will you promise me something very, very solemnly?" "If it is in my power I certainly will, my pet." "You have not got my wedding present yet, Hilda; but it is coming. Promise me----" "What, darling?" "Promise to take it to church with you to-morrow--I'll give it to you just before church--it will be full of me--my very heart will be in it--take it to church with you, Hilda, and hold it in your hand when you're giving yourself to Jasper--promise--promise." "How excited you are, my dearest! If it makes you really happy to know that I shall hold something of yours in my hand when I am being married, I will certainly do so." "Oh, it does make me happy, it does!" CHAPTER VII. A WEDDING PRESENT. But my lover will not prize All the glory that he rides in, When he gazes in my face: He will say: "O Love, thine eyes Build the shrine my soul abides in, And I kneel here for thy grace!" --E. BARRETT BROWNING. There was a holly tree not far from the church with berries so red and leaves so green and shining that it was generally denuded of its beauties to decorate the most important parts of the church.