“What, Hannah?”

“Well—­fair, plain, open, straight-forward, upright dealing, such as should always exist between man and woman.”

“Hannah, you are unjust to me!  Am I not fair, plain, open, straight-forward, upright, and all the rest of it in my dealing with you?”

“With us, yes; but—­”

“With my mother it is necessary to be cautious.  It is true that she has no right to oppose my marriage with Nora; but yet she would oppose it, even to death!  Therefore, to save trouble and secure peace, I would marry my dear Nora quietly.  Mystery, Hannah, is not necessarily guilt; it is often wisdom and mercy.  Do not object to a little harmless mystery, that is besides to secure peace!  Come, Hannah, what say you?”

“How long must this marriage, should it take place, be kept a secret?” inquired Hannah uneasily.

“Not one hour longer than you and Nora think it necessary that it should be declared!  Still, I should beg your forbearance as long as possible.  Come, Hannah, your answer!”

“I must have time to reflect.  I fear I should be doing very wrong to consent to this marriage, and yet—­and yet—.  But I must take a night to think of it!  To-morrow, Mr. Brudenell, I will give you an answer!”

With this reply the young man was obliged to be contented.  Soon after he arose and took his leave.

When he was quite out of hearing Nora arose and threw herself into her sister’s arms, crying: 

“Oh, Hannah, consent! consent!  I cannot live without him!”

The elder sister caressed the younger tenderly; told her of all the dangers of a secret marriage; of all the miseries of an ill-sorted one; and implored her to dismiss her wealthy lover, and struggle with her misplaced love.

Nora replied only with tears and sobs, and vain repetitions of the words: 

“I cannot live without him, Hannah!  I cannot live without him!”

Alas, for weakness, willfulness, and passion!  They, and not wise counsels, gained the day.  Nora would not give up her lover; would not struggle with her love; but would have her own way.

At length, in yielding a reluctant acquiesence, Hannah said: 

“I would never countenance this—­never, Nora! but for one reason; it is that I know, whether I consent or not, you two, weak and willful and passionate as you are, will rush into this imprudent marriage all the same!  And I think for your sake it had better take place with my sanction, and in my presence, than otherwise.”

Nora clasped her sister’s neck and covered her face with kisses.

“He means well by us, dear Hannah—­indeed he does, bless him!  So do not look so grave because we are going to be happy.”

Had Herman felt sure of his answer the next day?  It really seemed so; for when he made his appearance at the cottage in the morning he brought the marriage license in his pocket and a peripatetic minister in his company.