"Never!" said Mollie. "You cruel, tyrannical wretch, I hate you!" And saying it, Mollie put her arms round his neck, and laughed and cried wildly in the same breath. "The hysterics will do you good, my dear," said Mr. Ingelow; "only don't keep them up too long, and redden your precious blue eyes, and swell your dear little nose. Mollie, is it possible you love me a little, after all?" Mollie lifted her face again, and looked at him with solemn, shining eyes. "Oh, Hugh! am I really and truly--your very wife?" "My very own--my darling Mollie--my precious little bride, as fast as Church and State and Mr. Rashleigh can make you." "Oh, Hugh, it was a shame!" "I know it, Mollie--a dreadful shame! But you'll be a Christian, won't you, and try to forgive me?" "I'll try, but I'm afraid it is impossible. And all the time I thought it was Doctor Oleander. Oh, Hugh, you've no idea how miserable I was." There was a mysterious twinkle in Hugh's eyes. "Almost as miserable as at present, Mollie?" "Yes; more so, if such a thing be possible. It's shocking to carry off a girl like that, and marry her against her will. Nobody in this world, but an angel like myself, would ever forgive you." "Which is equivalent to saying you do forgive me. Thousand thanks, Mrs. Ingelow. Tell me, would you ever have forgiven Guy Oleander?" "You know I wouldn't," Mollie answered, blushing beautifully at her new name; "but, then, you're different." "How, Mollie?" "Well--well, you see I hate Doctor Oleander, and I don't hate you." "You like me a little, Mollie, don't you? Ah, my darling, tell me so. You know you never have yet." And then Mollie put her two arms round his neck, and held up her lovely, blushing face. "Dear, dear Hugh! I love you with all my heart! And the happiest day of Mollie's life is the day she finds you are Mollie's husband!" * * * * * They were back in the carriage, driving through the golden mist of the sunny afternoon slowly back to the city. Side by side, as happy lovers sit, they sat and talked, with--oh, such infinitely blissful faces! "And now," said Mollie, "what are we going to do about it? It will never answer to reveal this horrid little romance of ours to all the world." "Nor shall I. The world has no right to our secrets, and the Reverend Raymond Rashleigh will go to his grave with his little mystery unsolved. But we will be married again, openly and before the world, and you, Mrs. Ingelow, will be under double obligation, because you will have promised to love, honor and obey twice." "And we'll go and live out at Harlem, in the dear, romantic old house?" Mollie said, with sparkling eyes. "Yes, if you wish it. I will have it repaired and refurnished immediately, and, while the workmen are about it, we will be enjoying our wedding-tour. For we must be married at once, Mollie," with a comical look. Mollie blushed and fidgeted, and laughed a little nervous laugh.