"
Essie laughed a little, and said, "A month ago! Sometimes it seems a
very long time, and sometimes a very short one."
"I hope it seems a very long time that you have known me."
"Well, Johnny and all the rest had known you ever so long," answered
she, with a confusion of manner that expressed a good deal more than
the words. "I really must go—-"
"Not till you have told me more than that," cried Cecil, seizing his
opportunity with a sudden rush of audacity. "If you know me, can
you-—can you like me? Can't you? Oh, Essie, stay! Could you ever
love me, you peerless, sweetest, loveliest—-"
By this time Mrs. Brownlow, who had heard Cecil's boots on the
stairs, and particularly wished to stave matters off till after the
Friar's mission, had made a hasty conclusion of her lesson, and
letting her girls depart, opened the door. She saw at once that she
was too late; but there was no retreat, for Esther flew past her in
shy terror, and Cecil advanced with the earnest, innocent entreaty,
"Oh, Mrs. Brownlow, make her hear me! I must have it out, or I can't
bear it."
"Oh," said she, "it has come to this, has it?" speaking half-
quaintly, half-sadly, and holding Lina kindly back.
"I could not help it!" he went on. "She did look so lovely, and she
is so dear! Do get her down, that I may see her again.
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