"Oh，Jane，you torture me!" he exclaimed. "With that searching and yet faithful and generous look，you torture me!"

"How can I do that? If you are true，and your offer real，my only feelings to you must be gratitude and devotion- they cannot torture."

"Gratitude!" he ejaculated; and added wildly- "Jane，accept me quickly. Say，Edward- give me my name- Edward- I will marry you."

"Are you in earnest? Do you truly love me? Do you sincerely wish me to be your wife?"

"I do; and if an oath is necessary to satisfy you，I swear it."

"Then，sir，I will marry you."

"Edward- my little wife!"

"Dear Edward!"

"e to me- e to me entirely now," said he; and added，in his deepest tone，speaking in my ear as his cheek was laid on mine，"Make my happiness- I will make yours."

"God pardon me!" he subjoined ere long; "and man meddle not with me: I have her，and will hold her."

"There is no one to meddle，sir. I have no kindred to interfere."

"No- that is the best of it," he said. And if I had loved him less I should have thought his accent and look of exultation savage; but，sitting by him，roused from the nightmare of parting- called to the paradise of union- I thought only of the bliss given me to drink in so abundant a flow. Again and again he said，"Are you happy，Jane?"

And again and again I answered，"Yes," After which he murmured，"It will atone- it will atone. Have I not found her friendless，and cold，and fortless? Will I not guard，and cherish，and solace her? Is there not love in my heart，and constancy in my resolves? It will expiate at God"s tribunal. I know my Maker sanctions what I do.

For the world"s judgment- I wash my hands thereof. For man"s opinion- I defy it."