“No,” she said, quietly, “not with etiquette will I weigh it, for I wish to go with you, Augustus; nor with duty _must_ I weigh it.” “What do you mean, dearest Sophie?” exclaimed he, anxiously. “Only this—there are some preliminaries to be arranged, that cannot be settled without you.” “Then, whatever they may be, they _are_ settled—just consider them settled, Sophie,” said he, earnestly. “But hear them; these are not things that can be despatched and forgotten; they may attend us some time. I would have you make no rash vows about them, Augustus.” “They are _settled_, I tell you, Sophie! _settled!_ Your will, your wishes, are enough—are paramount! Have I not confidence in you, dearest Sophie? More, far more, than I have in myself; they are _settled_!” exclaimed he, impetuously. “But you must know them to assist me.” “Very well; upon _that_ account, I will listen, darling; but first, mind you, Sophie, I am to understand, am I not, that when I have settled all these preliminaries, we are to be united, and leave _together_ on Thursday morning—ha! say, Sophie?” “Yes,” whispered Sophie, with a dying cadence. “Say! speak louder, Sophie. I mistrust my ears—did you say ‘yes’?” “Yes, yes!” said Sophie, blushing scarlet, with the tears in her eyes, “I said ‘yes.’” “Yes! Ah! stop, let me take time to take in all this idea of ‘yes.’ Thursday morning, Sophie my wife! There is a point at which joy stuns one! Speak to me, Sophie!” “I think that you forget I have not told you my preliminaries.” “Oh, the preliminaries! any that _I_ have anything to do with? Never mind them, Sophie; but you are sure that you will not disappoint me Thursday morning? are you sure you will not put me off—tell me about dresses to be made, or a wedding party to be got up, or at least make a delay about breaking up housekeeping at Heath Hall? Ah, yes! certainly, I see now; these are the very preliminaries of which you speak; and how, alas! can we settle them in two days!” “Dear Augustus!” said Sophie, “do you think me so unconscious of the worth of your regard, and so ungrateful for it, as to think of trifling with it, or deferring our”— “Marriage?” “Yes; upon any but grounds of _duty_”— “Oh, dear, dear, dear! _what_ is it, then, Sophie; let us hear it quick! I listen, darling, punctilious little brown-eyed darling!” “Well, then, our Rosalia”— “Rosalia!” “Yes, Rosalia Aguilar—_our_ Rose, our beauty, our moonbeam, our love!” “You are enthusiastic, my Sophie!”