She hid her face in her hands on his knee, and the old man laid his hand softly on her head, murmuring words of prayer and blessing. As Revere watched them he thought they made a perfect pair. "Are you able to support a wife, lad?" asked the veteran, at last, as he stroked the sunny hair of his granddaughter. "Yes, sir; amply able." "You have something more than a lieutenant's pay, then?" "Yes, sir; I have a private fortune of my own." "And your mother?" "I have not told her yet, sir; but she is coming to call upon you immediately, and then I shall do so. I have no doubt what her answer will be; although, whatever it be, I am a man in years and my own master, and----" "Nay, lad, a man's never wholly his own master in the presence of a good mother, and I'd have no child of mine coldly welcomed into any family. We shall see what your mother says. If she be content, I shall be very glad. You have no other tie?" Emily lifted her head and looked at Revere as this question was put. There were tears in her eyes and her heart almost ceased beating. She was sure of the answer, yet she longed to hear his specific reply. "No, sir," answered the young man, boldly. "Oh, Richard!" exclaimed Emily; "and Josephine!" "Josephine!" said the old man; "who is she?" "A connection of my family, sir, who has just announced to me her engagement to an estimable young man of our acquaintance." "Richard," said Emily, springing to her feet, "you don't mean it?" "I do. Will you kiss me now, Emily?" Forgetful of the old man, she sprang into his arms. "Children, children!" said the admiral, smiling indulgently; "you are in a great hurry, it seems to me. Ah, well, I remember when I was a lad, so many years ago, I was in a hurry, too. Now I wait. Indifferently I wait. It cannot be much longer, and yet, for your sake, dear child, I was loath to go. Now, please God,--and your mother, young sir,--the child will be cared for. We can go now, I and the ship. I trust I will be able to leave you in love's hands; in the hands of a gentleman and a sailor, an officer of the navy of the United States,--your mother consenting, my lad,--that is as I would have it. Revere, may God bless you as you deal tenderly and lovingly with this daughter of my old, old age." "And may God judge me, sir, if I do not so," answered Richard, solemnly. "This kiss is for you, grandfather," answered the happy Emily, turning to him. CHAPTER XIX THE USUAL COURSE They were together on the gun-platform once more, Emily and Revere. She sat on the gun-carriage and he leaned against the parapet by her side. He held a fold of her dress in his hand. "Now, Dick," she said, "tell me all about it. Was she vexed when she received your letter?" "My darling, she has not seen it. She and mother started before my man got there. He is probably bringing it back here now. As good luck would have it, she has fallen in love with a certain Charles Van Dorn. He's rather a poor stick, too, I think."