"Yes." "Say you love me!" "I love you!" Thereafter there was silence awhile, and as Phoebe lay enfolded in her lover's arms, a high resolve entered his soul to be worthy of the priceless blessing of her love. And she? Her soul was also stirred by a prayer that she might be able to make herself worthy of him--her hero, her life! "We must go in now, Fred. They will think it so strange!" "I am not so sure," he said, and kept her still in his embrace. "Why are you not so sure, Fred? Indeed, indeed they will!" "Do you know, my darling"--he paused, and repeated softly, "my darling!--my very, very own!" And then he lost himself, and forgot for a moment what he had intended to say. "Well, Fred?" "Well what, Phoebe?" "You were saying, 'Do you know--'" "Oh, yes. I said, 'Do you know.' What came afterward?" "My darling!" she said, in a delicious whisper. It was enough to make him forget himself again; and he did; but he presently took up the thread. "Do you know, my darling, I have an idea that Fanny sent me here for a purpose--bless her kind heart!" "For what purpose?" "For this." He pressed her closer to him. "Oh, Fred, she never could!" "Couldn't she? What! Our Fanny, our dear cousin, not be equal to such a scheme! Upon my word, she deserves--what she shall get when we go to her. Thinking seriously over the matter, Phoebe--and I never was more serious in my life than I am now, my own!--I have no doubt that she had everything already planned out in her pretty little head." "Fred, we really must go." "Not till--" "Till what, Fred?" He held her face between his hands, and put his lips to hers. Thus they pledged love and faith to each other, for weal or woe. "Well, you people!" cried Fanny, as they entered. "We are not half ready for you; and here you come breaking in upon us so suddenly and quickly--just as Bob and I were talking secrets--weren't we, Bob? Well, I wonder at your impudence, Fred! Oh, my dear, my dear!" The affectionate girl's arms were round Phoebe's neck, hugging her close, and her gay voice had drifted into tears. For Fred had kissed her, and Phoebe too; and somehow or other, in these kissings the news of Phoebe's and Fred's engagement was conveyed without ever a word being spoken about it. How Fanny danced round Phoebe, and how she commanded Fred to kiss her again, and how she kissed him unblushingly more than once, and how she hugged Phoebe again and again, and how her face flushed and her eyes sparkled, and how she got her hair rumpled in the most unaccountable manner, and how she seized Bob and waltzed round the room with him, dodging the chairs and tables in the most marvellous way, and how, finally, she fell upon the sofa, out of breath, not knowing whether to laugh or to cry, and therefore doing a little of both!--all this must be imagined, for it is impossible to describe. "And oh, my dears, my dears!" she cried, "I hope you'll be happy for ever and ever!"