"Mine now, dearest; yet you seemed so far away from me only a few hours
ago. How surprised your father will be! I wish he could see you here in my
arms."
"Oh, hush! that would be dreadful! Was he surprised this afternoon at your
errand? I thought it was you who left those papers; but when you announced
your coming marriage this evening, then I began to doubt," and she laughed
softly.
"It was a surprise at first, but he consented at last to give me his
treasure--if I could get her."
"Poor papa, I will never leave him. No one else seems to have time to be
with him or amuse him as I can, and it is hard for him to feel so helpless
when he has such a restless and energetic disposition."
"I promised not to take you away while he needed you; but, dearest--I do
not want to alarm you--I do not think he will have to bear his pain many
weeks longer. He is failing, I can see, and he told me to-day that he felt
his strength going fast."
"I know it is so, though I have tried to put the thought aside. Dear papa,
how good he has been to me! What news this will be to him! But I hope no
one else will find it out--just yet.
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