‘Very happy, in knowing what cause I have to rejoice for you.’

James gave a great start, and trembled visibly.

‘I did not tell you,’ pursued Louis, ’that the single moment when she lost her firmness, was when she thought she had lost a certain ivory clasp.’

James could endure no more:  ‘Louis,’ he said, ’you must try me no longer.  What do you mean?’

Louis affectionately put his hand on his shoulder:  ’I mean, dear Jem, that I understand it now; and it is a noble heart that you have won, and that can value you as you deserve.’

James wrung his hand, and looked bewildered, inquiring, and happy; but his quivering lips could form no words.

‘It was a time to reveal the depths of the heart,’ said Louis.  ’A few words and the loss of the bracelet betrayed much:  and afterwards, as far as a lady could, she confessed that something which passed between you the last evening—­’

‘Louis!’ cried James, ’I could not help it!  I had been striving against it all along; but if you could imagine how I was tried!  You never would come to plead your own cause, and I thought to work for you, but my words are too near the surface.  I cut myself short.  I have bitterly reproached myself ever since, but I did not know the harm I had done you.  Can you forgive me?  Can you—­No, it is vain to ask; you never can be happy.’

’My dear Jem, you go on at such a pace, there is no answering you.  There is no forgiveness in the case.  Further acquaintance had already convinced me that she was lovely and perfect, but that ’she is na mine ain lassie.’  Yes, she caught my imagination; and you and my father would have it that I was in love, and I supposed you knew best:  but when I was let alone to a rational consideration, I found that to me she is rather the embodied Isabel of romance, a beauteous vision, than the—­the—­in short, that there is another who has all that I am wanting in.  No, no, dear Jem; it was you who made the generous sacrifice.  Have no scruples about me; I am content with the part of Una’s Lion, only thankful that Sans-Loy and Sans-Foy had not quite demolished him before he had seen her restored to the Red Cross Knight.’

It was too much for James; he hid his face in his hands, and burst into tears.  Such joy dawning on him, without having either offended or injured his cousin, produced a revulsion of feeling which he could not control, and hearing the street-door opened, he ran out of the room, just before his grandmother came hurrying in, on the wings of the intelligence heard below.

‘Yes!  I knew my own boy would come to me!’ she cried.  ’Even Miss Conway has not begun to keep him from me yet.’

’Nor ever will, Aunt Kitty.  There are obstacles in the way.  You must be granny, and mother, and sister and wife, and all my womankind, a little longer, if you please.’  And he sat down fondly at her feet, on a footstool which had been his childish perch.