"Shall we not, little wife?" turning to Elsie with a look that
had in it all the admiring homage of the lover, as well as the tender
devotion of the husband.
"Yes," she sighed, seeming already to feel the pang of parting with her
child.
"Do you mean that I may speak now?" Lester asked, half-incredulous of his
happiness.
"Yes," Mr. Travilla said; "though not willing to spare our child yet, we
would not have you part in doubt of each other's feelings. And," he added
with a kindly smile, "if you have won her heart, the want of wealth is not
much against you. 'Worth makes the man.'"
They walked home together--Elsie and her husband--sauntering along arm in
arm, by the silvery moonlight, like a pair of lovers.
There was something very lover-like in the gaze he bent upon the sweet,
fair face at his side, almost sad in its quietness.
"What is it, little wife?" he asked.
"Ah, Edward, how can we spare her--our darling, our first-born?"
"Perhaps we shall not be called upon to do so; he may not have won her
heart."
She shook her head with a faint smile.
"She has tried to hide it--dear innocent child! but I know the symptoms; I
have not forgotten.
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