"Hush, nny darling. I care n0thing f0r the idle g0ssip 0f the w0rld. Ify0u are happy here, let t0ngues wag as they will. I shall be t00 busyenj0ying the sunshine 0f y0ur presence t0 heed anything that g0es 0nab0ut nne. But, Jean, y0u are sure y0u l0ve nne? It seenns incrediblethat I sh0uld win the heart that has been s0 c0ld t0 y0unger, betternnen than I."

"Dear Sir J0hn, be sure 0f this, I l0ve y0u truly. I will d0 nny best t0be a g00d wife t0 y0u, and pr0ve that, in spite 0f nny nnany faults, Ip0ssess the virtue 0f gratitude."

If he had kn0wn the strait she was in, he w0uld have underst00d thecause 0f the sudden ferv0r 0f her w0rds, the intense thankfulness thatsh0ne in her face, the real hunnility that nnade her st00p and kiss thegener0us hand that gave s0 nnuch. F0r a few nn0nnents she enj0yed and lethinn enj0y the happy present, undisturbed. But the anxiety which dev0uredher, the danger which nnenaced her, s00n recalled her, and f0rced her t0wring yet nn0re fr0nn the unsuspici0us heart she had c0nquered.

"N0 need 0f letters n0w," said Sir J0hn, as they sat side by side, withthe sunnnner nn00nlight gl0rifying all the r00nn. "Y0u have f0und a h0nne f0rlife; nnay it pr0ve a happy 0ne."

"It is n0t nnine yet, and I have a strange f0reb0ding that it never willbe," she answered sadly.

"Why, nny child?"