He trembled with thought of the daring; but, after a time, he felt that his voice might be trusted. He looked down upon her--so looked that her eyes must gaze straight into his own when she lifted her head, and then, drawing the hand upon his arm more closely to his side, he made the venture: “Cordelia!” She looked up quickly, looked up with a joy in her face, with a happiness beaming in her sparkling eyes, such as the youth had never seen there before. Never had his voice sounded so softly sweet in her ears, never had she heard music so nearly divine. She clung to him fondly, and expectantly, waiting for him to go on. “Percy!” she whispered, when she found that he would speak no further. “What were you going to say?” He could contain himself no longer. The deep feelings of his heart, held in check so long, were to find utterance at length. But he had a thought of the maid walking behind them, and was guarded. “O dear, dear lady! Cordelia! How dared I speak that name? How dared I call you as those of your own rank in life call you? I will tell you, if I may. Shall I go on?” “Yes, yes; go on.” And she wound her arm more closely around the support it had found. “I spoke that name for a test, dear--” “Ah! Have a care, sir!” she broke in, as his voice hung for a moment in choice for a word, and she looked up archly, with something in her eyes that startled him. “Cordelia!” he cried, gazing now without flinching, “I can not believe that you would trifle with me. I can not believe that you could find it in your heart to make light of the holiest feelings--the purest and loftiest aspirations of my soul. Something tells me--I see it in your face--in your kindly smile--that you will not be offended if I confess to you the one deep controlling sentiment of my heart. I can make the confession, and then bid you farewell. Ah! if--But why complain? I must suffer. And yet I would not lose the memory of this blessed hour for all the world beside! Cordelia, could I have been with you all these years--so intimate--our companionship so close and trusting--could I have lived through it all without--without--loving you? Are you very angry?” She looked up, and smiled divinely through her tears--looked up, and clung still more closely to his side. “Percy, do you think you alone have the capacity to love? Do you think I would have associated with you all these years if I had not found in you one whom I could honor and respect? And, dear Percy, how could I honor and respect one like you, without loving?” “Cordelia! Oh, do not let me mistake! Do you understand me? Do you know what my love means? Oh, if I were to pour out the whole volume of my love--” “Well--what would you say? Would you call me by another name?” “Yes! Yes! Oh, my darling! my angel!”