"Oh, can it be true?" she cried, gazing at him; and neither of them saw Old Jasper, who at this moment came through the gap. He halted and stood perfectly still looking at them. "You know it is true," said Tom. He put his hands upon his breast. "Why, when I first saw you it seemed--seemed that they were lighting candles all around in here. And Lou, you must be my wife. Don't you know it is true?" "Yes, I know," she replied, with her hand upon her heart, as if to calm it; "yes, I know, but there is somethin' a flutterin' here and I'm afraid it will fly away. But--but I love you so!" In his arms he seized her and slowly Old Jasper came to them as they stood, lost to all earth, and about them he put his brown arms. They sprang apart and he took his daughter to his breast; and the boy stood there waiting, striving to say something. "Mr. Starbuck, I--" "Looks like everythin' has been said," Jasper broke in; and then upon the young fellow he cast a kindly look. "She couldn't hide that she loved you, sir." "I am thankful for that. But everything has not been said, Mr. Starbuck--two more words are necessary, one from you and one from her mother." "I didn't know how to try to hide that I loved him," said Lou. "I didn't want to try." She went over to Tom and he put his arm about her. "Do you think her mother will object, sir?" Jasper looked away to hide the laughter that had jumped into his countenance. "Oh," said he, "I reckon she can be persuaded, and here she is." Margaret and Mrs. Mayfield came out of the house. "Margaret," said the old man, "I reckon these young folks air goin' to git married." Margaret held out her arms and Lou ran to her, and with her head on her mother's bosom, she declared that she never could have thought it so sweet to be ashamed. "Suthin' called me back from the mill, and it was to see this," said the old man. Lou turned to Tom. "You won't love me any the less because I couldn't hide that I loved you, will you?" "Oh, there couldn't be any less, and in the whole world there isn't room for more," Tom replied; his aunt standing near, looking with misty eyes upon him. [Illustration: "WELL," MARGARET EXCLAIMED, "I NEVER WAS SO SURPRISED."] "Well," Margaret exclaimed, "I never was so surprised." Jasper ducked his head and with his hands behind him walked off. But soon he came back and replied: "No, but I reckon if it hadn't happened you'd a been a leetle mo' surprised." She flouted at him and said to Tom: "Goin' to git married?" "Yes, madam, not next year, month, week--but now." "Now!" exclaimed Jasper, with a clap of hands. "My dear," Mrs. Mayfield said to Lou, "you need not be afraid to trust him. He won't live a lie." Tom took the girl by the hand. "Come with me now, please. Let us go where the spirit boy used to play with you." "Yes. And now I know that all the time it was you--you lived under the rock. Come on. We will go up among the hills an' make like we are lost."