“Yet surely,” he began--until, looking at her, something convinced him that his arguments were useless. He stretched out his hand again for the letter, but with a slight gesture which expressed much, Agatha withheld it. After a pause, he said, meekly enough, as if thoroughly overcome by circumstances,--“So, it is quite true? You really love my brother?” “I honour him, as I said, more than I do any man.” “And love him--are you sure you love him?” “No one,” she answered, deeply blushing--“No one but himself has a right to receive the answer to that question.” “True, true. Pardon me once more. But I am so startled, absolutely amazed. My brother Nathanael--he that was a baby when I was a grown man--he to marry--marrying you too--and I----Well; I suppose I am really growing into a miserable, useless old bachelor. I have thrown away my life: I shall be the last apple left on the tree--and a tolerably withered one too. But no matter. The world shall see the sunny half of me to the last.” He laughed rather tunelessly at his own bitter jest, and after a brief silence, recovered his accustomed manner. “So so; such things must be, and I, though a bachelor myself, have no right to forbid marriages. Allow me to congratulate you. Of course you have answered this letter? My brother knows his happiness?” “He knows nothing; but I wished that he should do so to-day, after I had spoken to you. It was a respect I felt to be your due, to form no engagement of this kind without your knowledge.” “Thank you,” he said in a low voice. “You have been good and kind to me,” continued Agatha, a little touched, “and I wished to have your approval in all things--chiefly in this. Is it so?” He offered his hand, saying, “God bless you!” with a quivering lip. He even muttered “child;” as though he felt how old he was growing, and how he had let all life's happiness slip by, until it was just that he should no longer claim it, but be content to see young people rejoicing in their youth. After a pause, he added, “Now, shall I go and fetch my brother?” “No,” replied Agatha, “send for him, and do you stay here.” “As you please,” said Major Harper, a good deal surprised at this very original way of conducting a love affair. After courteously offering to withdraw himself to the dining-room, which Agatha declined, he sat and waited with her during the few minutes that elapsed before his brother appeared. Nathanael looked much agitated; his boyish face seemed to have grown years older since the preceding night. He paused at the door, and glanced with suspicion on his brother and Miss Bowen. “You sent for me, Frederick?”