“I could have no peace, Miss Richmond, until I had begged your pardon for my unparalleled impertinence yesterday. I intreat you to believe that I had in my heart no intentional disrespect for you. I pray your forgiveness for my first rash words—what you called my _presumption_. For the other daring act, I am not so deeply repentant, for I would willingly have my head broken in reality, to have it lie for another moment where it laid yesterday; yet for that also I ask pardon. Do you grant it?” “With all my heart,” said Kate, smiling; but Harry continued— “I have been, indeed, most presuming and conceited, in supposing for a moment that I could be any thing to you; and, perhaps,” he continued, with a proud curl of the lip, “we have both been mistaken in according too much meaning to trifling words and acts—we two have flirted desperately, Kate,—have we not?” Kate bit her lip in vexation, and a shade of disappointment passed over her face. Just then the eyes of the two met, for the first time for some minutes, and the ridiculousness, the utter absurdity of they two endeavoring to deceive one another—to conceal for a moment longer the blessed truth that they _loved one another_, broke upon them at once, and they burst into a long and merry laugh. “Well,” said Harry, at last, dashing the tears of mirth from his flashing eyes, and seating himself nearer Kate, “it is time I at least was serious, for the deepest and strongest feelings of my heart will make themselves heard. Kate, dear Kate, whether it gives you pleasure to know it, or not, I _must_ tell you how truly, how devotedly, and, though you will scarce believe _that_, how _reverentially_ I love you! I am a strange, wild fellow, Kate, somewhat rude and over-mirthful; but you, I am sure, can make me what you wish. Will you undertake the task?” “With all my heart,” she again replied, frankly extending her hand. “Blessings on your sweet soul, Kate!—but—but—” “But what, Harry?” “Not much, only will you allow me to pay you back _that small coin_ you bestowed on me yesterday, in your Christian charity?” “Oh, I’ll forgive you the debt,” said Kate, laughing. “No, dear, I’ll not take advantage of your generosity, but pay you to the uttermost farthing.” “Ah, hold! that is all, now—a thousand times more than I gave you!” Suddenly the happy lover darted out of the room, and presently returned, saying, “See, Kate! a portrait of you, from memory.” “Ah, indeed!” said Kate. “But, Harry, you have made my dark hair quite an auburn, and it has only the slightest golden hue when the sunlight falls upon it.” “Well,” he replied, “to _my_ eyes, there was _always_ sunlight playing around you.” “Ah, thank you; but again, these eyes are dark _blue_, and mine are gray, or by complaisance, hazel.” “A very natural mistake, dearest,” said Harry, with an arch smile, “I saw heaven in your eyes, and so came to paint them blue.” * * * * *