Absorbed in her own thoughts, and in the effort to catch those
fast-retreating sounds, she did not hear a step approaching from behind;
but an arm encircled her waist, and a low-breathed "My darling" woke her
from her reverie.
She looked up, her eyes beaming with affection; "Papa; I am rather late,
am I not?"
"Not very. Hark! the clock is but just striking ten. Come, let us sit down
here for a little. We have hardly had a chat together to-day." He sighed
slightly as he drew her closer to him.
"No, papa dear, there has been so much company," she answered, laying her
head on his shoulder. "And----"
"And what?" as she paused. "Your father used to know all that concerned
you one way or the other. Is he to be shut out from your confidence now?
Ah, I think he must have been for some time past."
"I could not tell you _that_, papa," she murmured, blushing visibly in the
moonlight. "Indeed, I hardly knew it myself till----"
"Till when?"
"The night of Sophie's wedding."
"Ah!" he said, musingly; "but I cannot get over my surprise; he is your
senior by so many years, and you have known him from childhood and looked
upon him as a sort of uncle. I wonder at your choice."
"But you don't object, papa?"
"No, if I must give you away--and I've always known that would come some
time--I would rather it should be to him than any one else, for I can
never doubt that he will be tender and true to my precious one, when she
leaves her father's home for his.
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