He saw the trust and confidence she had in him, a trust and a confidence he had never felt himself, and had never before been wholly aware of in her. He saw that she had never shared those fears which had so long oppressed him, and into his love there came a devout thankfulness. He felt strong, hopeful, confident, victorious. He had a sudden fancy that it would be like this when they were married; he would sit at his own hearth, with a fire crackling merrily, and the rain and wind beating outside--for the first time he could indulge such a fancy; it allowed him, now that his future was assured, to come up to it and to take hold of it; it became a reality. The judge was not at home that night. Now and then Marley could hear Mrs. Blair speak a word to Connie and Chad, over their lessons in the sitting-room; school had commenced, and Connie having that year entered the High School had taken on a new dignity, in consequence of which she was treating Chad with a divine patience that brought its own peace into the Blair household. They talked for a long time of their plans. Marley would take his new place in December when the new county clerk went into office, and he told Lavinia all the advantages of the position. It would extend his acquaintance, it would give him a familiarity with court proceedings that otherwise he could not have acquired in years. He meant to study hard, and be admitted to the bar. They could have a little cottage and live simply and economically; he would save part of his salary, and when he hung out his shingle he would have enough money laid by to support them, modestly, until he could establish himself in a practice. He laid it all before her plainly, convincingly. He was charmed with the practicability of the plan, with its conservatism, its common sense. They might as well be married. "Can't we?" he asked. He trembled as he asked; his happiness had never come so close before. Lavinia dropped her embroidery frames into her lap and looked up at him. The question in her eyes was almost born of fear. "Right away?" exclaimed Lavinia. "Well, almost right away," Marley answered. "Sometime this winter, anyway." "This winter! So soon?" "So soon!" Marley repeated her words, almost in mockery. "But we mustn't be married in the winter," she said, "we've always planned to be married in June--our month, you know." "What's the use of waiting?" "But papa and mama--" This quick rushing to the parental cover, this clinging to the habit of years struck a jealousy through Marley's heart. His face fell and he looked hurt. "Can't we, dear?" he pleaded. Lavinia looked at him, and she said shyly: "If you say so, Glenn." They were solemn in their joy and made their plans in detail. They would be married quietly, Lavinia said, and at home. Doctor Marley would perform the ceremony, and Marley was touched by this recognition of his father.