"They are waiting for you, Miss Hester," said Alice--_they?_ how strange the combination was--yet I lingered still. I could not meet them both together. I could have borne to hear my father discuss it afterwards; but to look at each of them in the other's presence, was more than I thought I could endure. I went away slowly, Alice lingering over me, holding the light to show me the way I knew so well, and following me with her loving ways. My Alice, who had nobody but me! I turned round to her suddenly, for a moment, and leaned upon her breast, and sought her kiss upon my cheek--then I went away comforted. It was all the mother-comfort I had ever known. When my hand touched the drawing-room door, it was suddenly thrown open to me, and there he stood to receive me with such joy and eagerness, that I shrunk back in terror for my father. My father was not there. "We are alone," said Henry, "your father would not embarrass you, Hester, and he gives his consent under the most delightful of all conditions. Do you think me crazy? indeed, I will not answer for myself, for you belong to me, Hester, you are lawfully made over--my wife!" I was almost frightened by his vehemence; and though I had feared it so much, I was sorry now that my father did not stay. "Did it trouble him? Was he disturbed? What did he say?" I asked eagerly. "I am not to tell you what he said--he will tell you himself," said Henry, "but the condition--have you no curiosity to hear what this condition is?" "No," I said, "it seems to please you. I am glad my father cared to make conditions; and you are sure he was not angry? What did he say?" "I will tell you what _I_ said," was all the answer I got; "but all the rest you are to hear from himself. Now, Hester," he continued, pleadingly, holding my hands and looking into my face, "don't be vexed at the condition. I don't expect you are to like it as well as I do; but you will consent, will you not? You can trust yourself to me as well as if you knew me another year? Hester! don't turn away from me. There is your father coming; and I promised to leave you when I heard him. It is very hard leaving you; but I suppose I must not break my word to him. I am to come to-morrow. You will say good-night to me, surely--good-night to your poor slave. Princess--good-night!"