When Uncle Silas, therefore, was not in the talking vein
himself--and that was not often--you may suppose there was very little
spoken in his presence.
When Milly, across the table, saw the ring upon my finger, she, drawing
in her breath, said, 'Oh!' and, with round eyes and mouth, she looked so
delighted; and she made a little motion, as if she was on the point of
jumping up; and then her poor face quivered, and she bit her lip; and
staring imploringly at me, her eyes filled fast with tears, which rolled
down her round penitential cheeks.
I am sure I felt more penitent than she. I know I was crying and smiling,
and longing to kiss her. I suppose we were very absurd; but it is well that
small matters can stir the affections so profoundly at a time of life when
great troubles seldom approach us.
When at length the opportunity did come, never was such a hug out of the
wrestling ring as poor Milly bestowed on me, swaying me this way and that,
and burying her face in my dress, and blubbering--
'I was so lonely before you came, and you so good to me, and I such a
devil; and I'll never call you a name, but Maud--my darling Maud.
Pages:
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401