'
'Do you think I would ask you?' he returned, with a--well! Never mind
with what.
'I am sure you never would,' she answered, the bright tears standing in
her eyes.
'And I will swear it, Ruth, my darling, if you please. Leave Tom! That
would be a strange beginning. Leave Tom, dear! If Tom and we be not
inseparable, and Tom (God bless him) have not all honour and all love
in our home, my little wife, may that home never be! And that's a strong
oath, Ruth.'
Shall it be recorded how she thanked him? Yes, it shall. In all
simplicity and innocence and purity of heart, yet with a timid,
graceful, half-determined hesitation, she set a little rosy seal upon
the vow, whose colour was reflected in her face, and flashed up to the
braiding of her dark brown hair.
'Tom will be so happy, and so proud, and glad,' she said, clasping her
little hands. 'But so surprised! I am sure he had never thought of such
a thing.'
Of course John asked her immediately--because you know they were in that
foolish state when great allowances must be made--when SHE had begun to
think of such a thing, and this made a little diversion in their talk; a
charming diversion to them, but not so interesting to us; at the end of
which, they came back to Tom again.
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