"Nay, not mistaken now. I never knew thee till I understood that all men are not like thee. I never knew thee till I most foolishly thought that a few words from another man on even trivial subjects meant more than thy silence of devotion. I learned my own mind in many ways, Samuel, and then I learned thee; for I had thought thee was in a measure thrust upon me, and only because I had not seen thee before father's approval of thee. That other man's care of his wife--a care that kept her affliction from any and all eyes--showed me what thee was even, and what thee was for me. I cannot rightly say all that I would, but I can only say this--that I never cared overly much for thee at first, Samuel Biddle; but Richard Jordan has taught me one thing, which perhaps no other man in the world could have done." "And that is--?" "What love is." "Barbara!" "Yea, Samuel Biddle, what love is; for I love thee, I love thee, and but only thee; and might never have told thee so, but I heard what thee said a spell ago to father, and I knew that thee was not disgusted with me, but cared for me as much as ever. Yea, a stranger man has taught me what love is." And while I could but pat her head as it rested upon my shoulder, I said gladly, "Barbara, more than man has taught me what love is, and to love thee; but maybe a man can teach to woman what the Lord alone has taught to me." "Let me think so, Samuel--that the Lord taught thee, and thee taught me the knowledge fresh from the Lord." Then I placed my lips upon Barbara's lips. ROBERT C. MEYERS. LADY MORGAN.