mercy; even as noblest kings have been despotic, and
in their day have delighted in dispensing pardon.
So would I be towards you; -- or even as the King of
Kings -- to speak it reverently -- who, of His bound-
less goodness and free grace, remits the debts and
manifold trespasses of us, his poor, defaulting
creatures."

"Go on, for it is bliss to hear you," murmured
Claude.

"Nay, I have done; -- what have I said?" she
quietly enquired of him.

"Would you unsay it?" he demanded eagerly.

"Only to say it again," she answered blushing, --
"yet I fear I have babbled strangely; -- but, remem-
ber, I was never wooed before, nor answered wooer;
so, being a novice in love's archery, it may be that
the gust of a too ardent breath has caught my words,
and from my meaning wafted them awry."

"And can a fountain yield both bitter and sweet?"
demanded Claude: "or are you as changeful as is yon
waning moon?" he asked half chidingly.

"Rather consider me to be as is the sun, that knows
no change of aspect throughout the livelong year;
or, if it vary, swells its orb in winter," she observed,
"even as I would now appear to you with fuller
favor, amidst this young acquaintance's chilly pros-
pect."

"Chilly! it is summer wherever lovers cast their
eyes, the bright Bermudas. Do not libel love, nor
our sweet fortunes," cried Claude impetuously: "For
me, there never will be winter where you are; and
why, when I am with you, should you thus seem
to shiver, as it were, in the shadow of November?"

[[77]]

p076 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p077w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p078

v?