"Dora," said he gently, "you do not forget, that, some years ago, we bore the relation of master and pupil; and you still regard me with a certain deference and reserve, which, perhaps, blinds you to the true relation existing between us now. Remember, dear, that I am yet a younger man; and although my profession may have induced a certain gravity of manner, contrasting, perhaps unpleasantly, with your gay cousins joyous demeanor, I have all, or more than all, of his fervency of feeling; far more, I trust, of depth and steadfastness in my love for you." "Please, Mr. Brown," interposed Dora, "do not let us say any thing about Karl. He is not concerned in this." "You are right, Dora, and I was wrong," said Mr. Brown with a little effort of magnanimity. "But I was only trying to convince you that my love is quite as ardent, and quite as tender, as that of a younger and gayer man could be." "Yes, sir," said Dora timidly, as he paused for her assent. "Not 'Yes, sir,' child!" exclaimed the chaplain impatiently. "Don't treat me with this distant respect and timid reverence. I am your lover, your would-be comrade through life, as once through the less earnest battles of war. Call me Frank, and look into my face and smile as I have seen you smile on Karl." A quick smile dimpled Dora's cheek, and passed. "Not Karl, please, sir." "Dora, if you say 'sir' to me again, I'll kiss you." "Please not, Mr. Brown," said Dora demurely, "until you quite understand me." "Well then, let me quite understand you very quick; for I think I shall exact the penalty, even without further offence." "But I cannot promise,--I cannot be what you said," stammered Dora, half terrified, half confused. "Nay, darling,--I am going to always call you that, as expressive both of name and nature,--it is you who do not quite understand either yourself or me. I do not expect, or even wish, you to profess a love for me as ardent, open, and pronounced as my own: that were to make you other than the modest and delicately reserved maiden I have loved so long. All I ask you to feel is, that you can trust yourself to my guidance through life; that you can place your future in my hands, believing me capable of shaping it aright; that you can promise to tread with me the path I have selected, sure that it shall be my care to remove from it all thorns, all obstacles that mortal power may control, and that my arms shall bear you tenderly over the rough places I cannot make smooth for you.