"No, no," cried Saxon, "not your only
friend! Don't say that! Don't think it! Look
up—look in my face, and see if it is not the face
of a truer man than William Trefalden!"

And so, kneeling down before her to bring his
face upon a nearer level, the young man touched
her hands timidly, as if lie would fain draw them
away, yet dared not take them in his own.

"Do look at me!" he pleaded. "Only once—
only for one moment!"

She lifted her face, all pale with tears, and
glancing at him shyly, tremblingly, like a
frightened child, saw something in his eyes which
brought the colour back to her cheek in a flood
of sudden scarlet.

"Oh, if I only dared to tell you!" he said,
passionately. "May I?—may I?"

He took her hands in his—she did not withdraw
them. He kissed them; first one and then
the other. He leaned closer—closer.

"I love you, Helen," he whispered. " Can you
forget all this misery, and be my little wife?
My home is in Switzerland, where I have a dear
father who is a pastor. We are a simple people,
and we lead a simple life among our flocks and
pastures; but we are no traitors. We neither
oetray our friends nor deceive those we love.
Tell me, darling, will you love me a little? Will
you come and live with me among my own
beautiful Alps, far, far away?"

She smiled. He took that smile for his answer,
and kissed the lips that gave it; and then, for a
few minutes, they laughed and cried and rejoiced
together, like children who have found a treasure.

"You must wear this till I can get you a
smaller one," said Saxon, taking a ring from his
finger and putting it upon hers.

"It is very beautiful," said Helen. " What is
it?—a crystal?"

"No, a diamond."

"A diamond! I did not think there were any
real diamonds in the world so large as that!"

"I will give you a necklace of them, every one
bigger than this."

"What are you, then? A prince?"

"A citizen-farmer of the Swiss Republic."

"Then the Swiss are very rich?"

"Not they, indeed; but I am the richest man
in the Canton Grisons, and my wife will be a
great lady—as great a lady as her aunt, Lady
Castletowers."

"Do you know Lady Castletowers?"

"Yes; her son is my most intimate friend. He
is the dearest fellow in the world. You will be
so fond of him!"

"I do not know any of my relations," said
Helen, sadly, "except my aunt Alethea—and
she does not love me."

"She will find out that she loves you dearly;when
you wear your diamonds," laughed Saxon, his arm
round her waist, and his curls brushing her cheek.

Helen sighed, and laid her head wearily against
his shoulder.

"I do not want Lady Castletowers to love
me," she said; " and I do not care for diamonds.
I wish we were going to be poor, Saxon."

"Why so, Helen?"

"Because because I fancy poor people are
happier, and love each other better than rich
people. My father and mother were ver, very
poor, and . . . ."

"They never loved each other half so much as
we shall love each other!" interrupted Saxon,
impetuously. " I could not love you one jot more
if I were as poor as Adam."

"Are you sure of that?"

"As sure as that I am the happiest fellow in
all the world! But tell me, Helen, did you never
care for William Trefalden? Never at all?"

Helen shook her head.

"I respected him," she said. " I was grateful."

"But did you not love him a little?"

"No."

"Not in the least?"

"Not in the very least."

"And yet you would have married him!"

"Think how lonely I was."

"That is true poor little Helen!"

"And he loved me. He was the only person
in all the world who loved me."

"Except myself."

"Ah, but I could not know that! When did
you first begin to love me, Saxon?"

"I hardly know. I think ever since I found
you were in clanger of marrying William
Trefalden. And you?"

"I shall not tell you."

"Nay, that is not fair."

"Indeed I will not,"

"Then I shall conclude that you do not love
me at all."

"No, no!"

"Positively yes."

She turned her face away, half crying, half
laughing.

"You have been my hero," she whispered,
"ever since the day of our first meeting."

Now ready, THE EXTRA CHRISTMAS DOUBLE
NUMBER, entitled
DOCTOR MARIGOLD'S
PRESCRIPTIONS.
I. TO BE TAKEN IMMEDIATELY.
II. NOT TO BE TAKEN AT BED-TIME
III. TO BE TAKEN AT THE DINNER-TABLE
IV. NOT TO BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED.
V. TO BE TAKEN IN WATER.
VI. TO BE TAKEN WITH A GRAIN OF SALT.
VII. TO BE TAKEN AND TRIED.
VIII. TO BE TAKEN FOR LIFE
Price Fourpcnce, stitched in a cover.

COMPLETION OF MR. CHARLES DICKENS'S NEW
WORK.
Now ready, in 2 vols , price 22s.,
OUR MUTUAL FRIEND.
With 40 Illustrations by MARCUS STONE.
London: CHAPMAN and HALL, 193, Piccadilly..