He drew her closer, and again touched his lips to her cheek.

Smiling through her tears, she offered her lips.

“Oh, I’m very, very happy!” she said.  “It has been a happy year in spite of my grief for my dear, dear father, except when—­O Ned, we won’t ever be cross to one another again, will we?”

“I trust not, my darling,” he said.  “It is too sharp a pain to be at variance with one’s other half,” he added, with playful tenderness.  “Is it not, love!”

“Indeed, indeed it is!” she cried.

“See! this is to prove to you that I have not forgotten what a treasure I secured a year ago,” he said, reaching for an open jewel case that stood on a table near at hand, and laying it in her lap.

“Pearls!  Oh, how lovely! the most magnificent set I ever saw.  Many, many thanks, dear Ned!” she exclaimed in delight.  “I shall wear them this evening in honor of the day.

“But what shall I give you?  I’m afraid I have nothing but—­what I gave you a year ago—­myself.”

“The most priceless treasure earth can afford!” he responded, clasping her close to his heart.

“And your love,” she said softly, her arm stealing round his neck again, her shining eyes gazing fondly into his, “is more to me than all its gold and jewels.”

* * * * *

[Transcriber’s notes: 

Page 14 text reads:  “. . . tempter; (smudge) having . . .”; the word “as” was inserted in place of the smudge.

Page 70 missing word “bit” inserted to read “. . . not a bit cold . . .:]