"May I?" asked Fred. "Indeed you may," said Mrs. Lethbridge. She clasped the young man's hand, and looked at him solicitously; "I must speak to you before you go." He took the hint, and went out into the passage to wish his dear girl good night. It is wonderful what a long time this simplest form of farewell occupied, but then it was like a new language to the lovers. Indeed, everything to their senses was at that moment new and beautiful, and every word they spoke to each other was charged with strange tenderness. Fanny, as was to be expected of her, retired first to her bedroom, leaving the lovers together; but her high spirits would not allow her to be utterly extinguished. When at length Phoebe came slowly into the room, "with many a lingering look behind," Fanny popped out into the passage, shutting her cousin in. "Fred!" said Fanny, in a stage-whisper, leaning over the balustrade. "Yes," he said, looking up. "Like Romeo and Juliet, isn't it? Parting is such sweet sorrow she could say good-night until to-morrow. But she isn't coming out again, so you had best go at once to mamma. Good-night, Fred." "Good-night, Fanny." Then he went into the dining-room, where Mr. and Mrs. Lethbridge were waiting for him. It rather discomposed him to observe that they received him with grave looks instead of smiles. "You are not sorry," he said, "for what has occurred?" "No," replied Mrs. Lethbridge, "we are not sorry. But for one consideration there would not be a cloud upon our hearts to-night." "What consideration?" asked Fred. "Phoebe's father. You have not spoken to him?" "No, I have not. To speak the truth, it was my intention to ask your advice whether, before I spoke to Phoebe, I should go to see Mr. Farebrother at Parksides." "That would have been the best course, perhaps," said Mrs. Lethbridge. "You would have advised me to do so?" "Yes." "It is, however, too late to talk of that now. I had no intention of proposing to Phoebe to-night, and I have no idea how it all came about. But there it is, and I would not unsay what I have said, or undo what I have done, for all the wealth in the world." "We would not wish you to do so," said Mrs. Lethbridge; and her gentle voice and wistful eyes were sufficient proof that she was in entire sympathy with him. "It is not to-night that we have discovered that you and our dear Phoebe love each other. We have known it a long time, and our prayer is that we have not acted unwisely in innocently encouraging it. Should there be no obstacle to your union a happy life is before you both." "What obstacle can there be?" "Phoebe's father may refuse his consent." "I cannot see upon what grounds," said Fred. "I am not rich, it is true; but I am a gentleman, and I shall not ask him for any money. I am content--more than content--to take Phoebe as she is, without a penny, and to work with all my heart and soul for her happiness and comfort. And she will be happy with me, Aunt Leth."