he was intent on any thing but reading.--She was satisfied that he was thinking of nothing but Rosalie. The thought that Rosalie might one day become indeed his wife, now occurred to her for the thousandth time, and a thousand times stronger than ever; a spirit diffused itself through her heart which had never been breathed into it before; and filling it with hope and happiness, and unutterable contentment, irresistibly drew _it_ towards him. She approached him, accosted him, and in a moment was seated with him, hand in hand, upon the sofa! As soon as the dance was done,--"Rosalie," said Theodore, "'tis almost as warm in the air as in the room! will you be afraid to take a turn with me in the garden?" "I will get my shawl in a minute," said Rosalie, "and meet you there;" and the maiden was there almost as soon as he. They proceeded, arm-in-arm, to the farthest part of the garden; and there they walked up and down without either seeming inclined to speak, as though their hearts could discourse through their hands, which were locked in one another. "Rosalie!" at last breathed Theodore. "Rosalie!" breathed he a second time, before the expecting girl could summon courage to say "Well!" "I cannot go home to-night," resumed he, "without speaking to you." Yet Theodore seemed to be in no hurry to speak; for there he stopped, and continued silent so long that Rosalie began to doubt whether he would open his lips again. "Had we not better go in?" said Rosalie, "I think I hear them breaking up." "Not yet," replied Theodore. "They'll miss us," said Rosalie. "What of that?" rejoined Theodore. "Nay," resumed the maid, "we have remained long enough, and at least allow me to go in." "Stop but another minute, dear Rosalie!" imploringly exclaimed the youth. "For what!" was the maid's reply. "Rosalie," without a pause resumed Theodore, "you used to sit upon my knee, and let me call you wife. Are those times passed forever? dear Rosalie!--will you never let me take you on my knee and call you wife again?" "When we have done with our girlhood, we have done with our plays," said Rosalie. "I do not mean in _play_, dear Rosalie," cried Theodore. "It is not playing at man and wife to walk, as such, out of church. Will you marry me, Rosalie?" Rosalie was silent. "Will you marry me?" repeated he. Not a word would Rosalie speak.