"The years went on, my child," continued Sir Gordon, "and I kept fancying that the man had come, and that the test of my love for you was to be tried. I was willing to suffer--for your sake--to see you happy; and though I was ready to offer you wealth, title, and the tender affection of an elderly man, I put it aside, striving to do my duty." "Sir Gordon, I never knew of all this." "Knew!" he said, with a smile, "no: I never let you know. Well, my child, not to distress you too much, I have waited; and, as you knew, I have seen your admirers flitting about you, one by one, all these years; and I confess it, with a sense of delight I dare not dwell upon, I have found that not one of these butterflies has succeeded in winning our little flower. She has always been heart-whole and--There, I dare not say all I would. At last, with a pang that I felt that I must suffer, I saw, as I believed, that the right man had come, in the person of our friend, Christie Bayle. It has been agony to me, though I have hidden it beneath a calm face, I hope, and I have fought on as I saw your intimacy increase. For, I said to myself, it is right. He is well-to-do; he is young and handsome; he is true and manly; he is all that her lover should be; and, with a sigh, I have sat down telling myself that I was content, and, to prove myself, I have made him my friend. Millicent Luttrell, he is a true-hearted, noble fellow, and he loves you." Millicent half rose, but sank back in her chair, and her face grew calm once more. "I am no spy upon your actions or upon those of Christie Bayle, my child; but I know that he has been to you this morning; that he has asked you to be his wife, and that you have refused him." "Has Mr Bayle been so wanting in delicacy," said Millicent, with a flush of anger, "that he has told you this?" "No, no. Pray do not think thus of him. He is too noble--too manly a fellow to be guilty of such a weakness. There are things, though, which a man cannot conceal from a jealous lover's eyes, and this was one." "Jealous--lover!" faltered Millicent. "Yes," he said; "old as I am, my child, I must declare myself as your lover. This last rejection has given me hopes that may be wild--hopes which prompted me to speak as I do now." "Sir Gordon!" cried Millicent, rising from her seat; but he followed her example and took her hand.