Tears welled into her eyes with perplexity at the
new theory, and she could only falter out—-
"That doesn't seem right for me."
"Say one word and trust to me, and it shall be right. Yes, Esther,
say the word, and in it I shall be strong to overcome everything, and
win the consent you desire. Say only that, with it, you would love
me."
"If?" said Esther.
It was an interrogative _if,_ and she did not mean it for "the one
word," but Bobus caught at it as all he wanted. He meant it for the
fulcrum on which to rest the strong lever of his will, and before
Esther could add any qualification, he was overwhelming her with
thanks and assurances so fervent that she could interpose no more
doubts, and yielded to the sweetness of being able to make any one so
happy, above all the cousin whom most people thought so formidably
clever.
Edmund interrupted them by rushing up, thus losing the prize, which
was won by the last comer, and proved to be a splendid bonbon; but
there was consolation for the others, since Bobus had laid in a
supply as a means of securing peace.
He would fain have waited to rivet his chains before manifesting
them, but he knew Essie too well to expect her to keep the interview
a secret; and he had no time to lose if, as he intended, though he
had not told her so, he was to take her to Japan with him.
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