A few weeks passed too quickly by, imparting happiness even to Ellen, for had she been permitted the liberty of choosing a wife for her Edward, Lilla Grahame would have been her choice.  Deeply and almost painfully affected had she been indeed, when her brother first sought her to reveal the secret of his love.

“I cannot,” he said, “I will not marry without your sympathy, your approval, my sister—­my more than sister, my faithful friend, my gentle monitress, for such you have ever been to me,” and he folded her in his arms with a brother’s love, and Ellen had concealed upon his manly bosom the glistening tears, whose source she scarcely knew.  “I would have you love my wife, not only for my sake but for herself alone.  Never will I marry one who will refuse to look on you with the reverential affection your brother does.  Lilla Grahame does this, my Ellen; it was her girlish affection for you that first attracted my attention to her.  She will regard you as I do; she will teach her children, if it please heaven to grant us any, to look on you even as I would; her heart and home will be as open to my beloved sister as mine.  Speak then, my ever-cherished, ever faithful friend; tell me if, in seeking Lilla, your sympathy, your blessing will be mine.”

Tears of joy choked her utterance, but quickly recovering herself, Ellen answered him in a manner calculated indeed to increase his happiness, and her presence at Llangwillan satisfied every wish.

Unable to resist the eloquent entreaties of all his friends and the appealing eyes of his child, Grahame at last consented to spend the month which was to intervene ere his daughter’s nuptials, at Oakwood.  That period Edward intended to employ in visiting the ancient hall on the Delmont estate, which for the last three months had been in a state of active preparation for the reception of its long-absent master.  It was beautifully situated in the vicinity of the New Forest, Hampshire.  There Edward was to take his bride, considering the whole estate, his uncle declared, already as his own, as he did not mean to be a fixture there, but live alternately with his sister and his nephew.  Oakwood should see quite as much of him as Beech Hill, and young people were better alone, particularly the first year of their marriage.  Vainly Edward and Lilla sought to combat his resolution; the only concession they could obtain was, that when their honeymoon was over, he and Ellen would pay them a visit, just to see how they were getting on.

“You must never marry, Nelly, for I don’t know what my sister will do without you,” said Lord Delmont, laughing.

“Be assured, uncle Charles, I never will.  I love the freedom of this old hall much too well; and, unless my aunt absolutely sends me away, I shall not go.”

“And that she never will, Ellen,” said Lilla earnestly.  “She said the other day she did not know how she should ever spare you even to us; but you must come to us very often, dearest Ellen.  I shall never perform my part well as mistress of the large establishment with which Edward threatens me, without your counsel and support”