“Have you made a plan of what you desire?” “A plan! Do you think I could be guilty of such an absurdity as drawing a plan?” “How shall I know what you wish, then?” “I said a rustic bridge; you know what that is. I leave all the details to you.” “It shall be commenced to-day.” “You are very obedient.” “I intend to be. I will build you a bridge; but Julia----” He paused, and looked her in the face--only a glance, then gazed upon the ground. “But what? Are you going to tell me it is impossible, now you have promised to do it?” “Not at all; but if I build a bridge for you, Julia, you must build one for me.” “I am not a bridge builder.” “Neither am I.” “What do you mean, Dick?” “I find myself on the wrong side of the river.” “The wrong side?” “I am on one side, and you are on the other.” “Are you demented?” “As sane as a man in my condition can be.” “Pray, what do you mean by your condition?” “In love.” “Poor fellow! That’s a serious malady to some people.” “Very serious to me, if you refuse to build me the bridge.” “Has Susey Perkins stolen your heart?” stammered Julia, struggling to recover her self-possession. “Julia, I love you!” “Why, Dick! I wonder those words did not choke you.” “They will, I am afraid, if you laugh at me. Sit down on this bench, Julia, and we will see how the bridge will look when it is done,” said he, taking her by the hand, and conducting her to the seat. She did not resist, and he seated himself by her side. He said something more about the bridge, and described to her the structure he intended to erect, if she was pleased with the idea. “Will you build my bridge, Julia?” “That is a very blind figure, and I don’t understand it.” “The bridge upon which I may pass from doubt and uncertainty to joy and peace. I need not tell you, Julia, how long I have loved you.” “I don’t think you love me, Dick; it is only a spasm; you will recover in a week,” laughed she. “You doubt my words.” “How can I help doubting them?” “Why should you doubt them?” “For more than a year you have been hardly sociable as a friend.” “You know the reason. It would have been mean for me to press my suit before my character was vindicated.” “But since that?” “My motives were liable to misconstruction. Eugene is married now----” “Don’t say a word about those disagreeable matters, Dick. They are loathsome to me. I used to think before I went to Europe, and while I was there, that you were just a little fond of me.” “Not a little, for I loved you with all my soul, Julia.” “Not since I returned?” “Every moment of the time since I first came to Poppleton.” “But you have been so cold and distant since the trial!” “There was good reason for that.” “What?” “Dr. Lynch.” “What of him?” “If you love him better than me, I have no right to complain, and I will not. I did not, at any time, wish to step between you and him.” “You were very prudent.” “For your sake I was.” “Why are you less considerate now?”