Clearing her throat and
making a feint to cough, she plunged abruptly into the subject by
saying, "Richard, why have you never married? Didn't you ever see
anybody you loved well enough?"
Richard's heart gave one great throb and then grew still, for
Edith had stumbled upon the very thing uppermost in his mind. What
made her? Surely, there was a Providence in it. 'Twas an omen of
good, boding success to his suit, and after a moment he replied,
"Strange that you and I should both be thinking of matrimony. Do
you know that my dreaming you were dead is a sign that you will
soon be married?"
"_I_, Mr. Harrington!" and Edith started quickly. "The sign is not
true. I shall never marry, never. I shall live here always, if
you'll let me, but I do want you to have a wife. You will be so
much happier, I think. Shall I propose one for you?"
"Edith," Richard answered, "sit close to me while I tell you of
one I once wished to make my wife."
Edith drew nearer to him, and he placed upon her head the hands
which were cold and clammy as if their owner were nerving himself
for some mighty effort.
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