`Ihave，butitwouldbewrongtotalkofitnow。’
　　`Itwaswrongtotalkofitthen，Gilbert；itwouldnotnow——unlesstodosowouldbetoviolatethetruth。’
　　Iwastoomuchagitatedtospeak；but，withoutwaitingforananswer，sheturnedawayherglisteningeyeandcrimsoncheek，andthrewupthewindowandlookedout，whethertocalmherownexcitedfeelingsortorelieveherembarrassment，——oronlytopluckthatbeautifulhalf-blownChristmasrosethatgrewuponthelittleshrubwithout，justpeepingfromthesnow，thathadhitherto，nodoubt，defendeditfromthefrost，andwasnowmeltingawayinthesun。Pluckithowever，shedid，andhavinggentlydashedtheglitteringpowderfromitsleaves，approachedittoherlipsandsaid，`Thisroseisnotsofragrantasasummerflower，butithasstoodthroughhardshipsnoneofthemcouldbear：thecoldrainofwinterhassufficedtonourishit，anditsfaintsuntowarmit；thebleakwindshavenotblanchedit，orbrokenitsstem，andthekeenfrosthasnotblightedit。Look，Gilbert，itisstillfreshandbloomingasaflowercanbe，withthecoldsnowevennowonitspetals——Willyouhaveit？’
　　Iheldoutmyhand：Idarednotspeaklestmyemotionshouldovermasterme。Shelaidtheroseacrossmypalm，butIscarcelyclosedmyfingersuponit，sodeeplywasIabsorbedinthinkingwhatmightbethemeaningofherwords，andwhatIoughttodoorsayupontheoccasion；whethertogivewaytomyfeelingsorrestrainthemstill。Misconstruingthishesitationintoindifference——orreluctanceeven——toaccepthergift，Helensuddenlysnatcheditfrommyhand，threwitoutontothesnow，shutdownthewindowwithanemphasis，andwithdrewtothefire。
　　`Helen！whatmeansthis？’Icried，electrifiedatthisstartlingchangeinherdemeanour。
　　`Youdidnotunderstandmygift，’saidshe，——`or，whatisworse，youdespisedit：I’msorryIgaveityou；butsinceIdidmakesuchamistake，theonlyremedyIcouldthinkof，wastotakeitaway。’
　　`Youmisunderstoodme，cruelly，’Ireplied，andinaminuteI
　　hadopenedthewindowagain，leapedout，pickeduptheflower，broughtitin，andpresentedittoher，imploringhertogiveitmeagain，andIwouldkeepitforeverforhersake，andprizeitmorehighlythananythingintheworldIpossessed。
　　`Andwillthiscontentyou？’saidsheasshetookitinherhand。
　　`Itshall，’Ianswered。
　　`There，then；takeit。’
　　Ipresseditearnestlytomylips，andputitinmybosom，Mrs。
　　Huntingdonlookingonwithahalfsarcasticsmile。
　　`Now，areyougoing？’saidshe。
　　`Iwillif——ifImust。’
　　`Youarechanged，’persistedshe——`youaregrowneitherveryproudorveryindifferent。’
　　`Iamneither，Helen——Mrs。Huntingdon。Ifyoucouldseemyheart——
　　`Youmustbeone，——ifnotboth。AndwhyMrs。Huntingdon？——whynotHelen，asbefore？’
　　`Helen，then——dearHelen！’Imurmured。Iwasinanagonyofmingledlove，hope，delight，uncertainty，andsuspense。
　　`TheroseIgaveyouwasanemblemofmyheart，’saidshe；`wouldyoutakeitawayandleavemeherealone？’
　　`Wouldyougivemeyourhandtoo，ifIaskedit？’
　　`HaveInotsaidenough？’sheansweredwithamostenchantingsmile。Isnatchedherhandandwouldhaveferventlykissedit，butsuddenlycheckedmyselfandsaid，——
　　`Buthaveyouconsideredtheconsequences？’
　　`Hardly，Ithink，orIshouldnothaveofferedmyselftoonetooproudtotakeme，ortooindifferenttomakehisaffectionoutweighmyworldlygoods。’
　　StupidblockheadthatIwas！——Itrembledtoclaspherinmyarms，butdarednotbelieveinsomuchjoy，andyetrestrainedmyselftosay，——
　　`Butifyoushouldrepent！’
　　`Itwouldbeyourfault，’shereplied：`Inevershall，unlessyoubitterlydisappointme。Ifyouhavenotsufficientconfidenceinmyaffectiontobelievethis，letmealone。’
　　`Mydarlingangel——myownHelen，’criedI，nowpassionatelykissingthehandIstillretained，andthrowingmyleftarmaroundher，`younevershallrepent，ifitdependonmealone——Buthaveyouthoughtofyouraunt？’
　　Itrembledfortheanswerandclaspedherclosertomyheartintheinstinctivedreadoflosingmynew-foundtreasure。
　　`Myauntmustnotknowofityet，’saidshe。`Shewouldthinkitarash，wildstep，becauseshecouldnotimaginehowwellIknowyou；
　　butshemustknowyouherself，andlearntolikeyou。Youmustleaveusnow，afterlunch，andcomeagaininspring，andmakealongerstay，andcultivateheracquaintance；andIknowyouwilllikeeachother。’
　　`Andthenyouwillbemine，’saidIprintingakissuponherlips，andanother，andanother——forIwasasdaringandimpetuousnowasIhadbeenbackwardandconstrainedbefore。
　　`No——inanotheryear，’repliedshe，gentlydisengagingherselffrommyembrace，butstillfondlyclaspingmyhand。
　　`Anotheryear！Oh，Helen，Icouldnotwaitsolong！’
　　`Whereisyourfidelity？’
　　`ImeanIcouldnotendurethemiseryofsolongaseparation。’
　　`Itwouldnotbeaseparation：wewillwriteeveryday；myspiritshallbealwayswithyou；andsometimesyoushallseemewithyourbodilyeye。IwillnotbesuchahypocriteastopretendthatIdesiretowaitsolongmyself，butasmymarriageistopleasemyselfalone，Ioughttoconsultmyfriendsaboutthetimeofit。’
　　`Yourfriendswilldisapprove。’
　　`Theywillnotgreatlydisapprove，dearGilbert，’saidshe，earnestlykissingmyhand——`theycannot，whentheyknowyou——oriftheycould，theywouldnotbetruefriends；Ishouldnotcarefortheirestrangement——Nowareyousatisfied？’Shelookedupinmyfacewithasmileofineffabletenderness。
　　`CanIbeotherwise，withyourlove？Andyoudoloveme，Helen？’
　　saidI，notdoubtingthefact，butwishingtohearitconfirmedbyherownacknowledgment。
　　`IfyoulovedasIdo，’sheearnestlyreplied，`youwouldnothavesonearlylostme——thesescruplesoffalsedelicacyandpridewouldneverthushavetroubledyou——youwouldhaveseenthatthegreatestworldlydistinctionsanddiscrepanciesofrank，birth，andfortuneareasdustinthebalancecomparedwiththeunityofaccordantthoughtsandfeelings，andtrulyloving，sympathizingheartsandsouls。’
　　`Butthisistoomuchhappiness，’saidI，embracingheragain；
　　`IhavenotdeserveditHelen——Idarenotbelieveinsuchfelicity：andthelongerIhavetowait，thegreaterwillbemydreadthatsomethingwillintervenetosnatchyoufromme——andthink，athousandthingsmayhappeninayear！——Ishallbeinonelongfeverofrestlessterrorandimpatienceallthetime。Andbesides，winterissuchadrearyseason。’
　　`Ithoughtsotoo，’repliedshegravely：`Iwouldnotbemarriedinwinter——inDecember，atleast，’sheaddedwithashudder——forinthatmonthhadoccurredboththeill-starredmarriagethathadboundhertoherformerhusbandandtheterribledeaththatreleasedher——`andtherefore，Isaidanotheryearinspring。’
　　`Nextspring。’
　　`No，no——nextautumn，perhaps。’
　　`Summer，then。’
　　`Well，thecloseofsummer。Therenow！besatisfied。’
　　Whileshewasspeaking，Arthurre-enteredtheroom——goodboyforkeepingoutsolong。
　　`Mamma，Icouldn’tfindthebookineitheroftheplacesyoutoldmetolookforit’therewasaconscioussomethinginmamma’ssmilethatseemedtosay，`No，dear，Iknewyoucouldnot’，`butRachelgotitformeatlast。Look，Mr。Markham，anaturalhistorywithallkindsofbirdsandbeastsinit，andthereadingasniceasthepictures！’
　　Ingreatgoodhumour，Isatdowntoexaminethebookanddrewthelittlefellowbetweenmyknees。Hadhecomeaminutebefore，Ishouldhavereceivedhimlessgraciously，butnowIaffectionatelystrokedhiscurlinglocks，andevenkissedhisivoryforehead：hewasmyownHelen’sson，andthereforemine；andassuchIhaveeversinceregardedhim。Thatprettychildisnowafineyoungman：hehasrealizedhismother’sbrightestexpectations，andisatpresentresidinginGrassdaleManorwithhisyoungwife，themerrylittleHelenHattersley，ofyore。
　　Ihadnotlookedthroughhalfthebook，beforeMrs。Maxwellappearedtoinvitemeintotheotherroomtolunch。Thatlady’scool，distantmannersratherchilledmeatfirst；butIdidmybesttopropitiateher，andnotentirelywithoutsuccessIthink，eveninthatfirstshortvisit；forwhenItalkedcheerfullytoher，shegraduallybecamemorekindandcordial，andwhenIdepartedshebademeagraciousadieu，hopingerelongtohavethepleasureofseeingmeagain。
　　`Butyoumustnotgotillyouhaveseentheconservatory，myaunt’swintergarden，’saidHelen，asIadvancedtotakeleaveofher，withasmuchphilosophyandself-commandasIcouldsummontomyaid。
　　Igladlyavailedmyselfofsucharespite，andfollowedherintoalargeandbeautifulconservatory，plentifullyfurnishedwithflowersconsideringtheseason——butofcourse，Ihadlittleattentiontospareforthem。Itwasnothoweverforanytendercolloquythatmycompanionhadbroughtmethere：——
　　`Myauntisparticularlyfondofflowers，’sheobserved，`andsheisfondofStaningleytoo：Ibroughtyouheretoofferapetitioninherbehalfthatthismaybeherhomeaslongasshelives，and——ifitbenotourhomelikewise——thatImayoftenseeherandbewithher；forI
　　fearshewillbesorrytoloseme；and，thoughsheleadsaretiredandcontemplativelife，sheisapttogetlow-spiritediflefttoomuchalone。’
　　`Byallmeans，dearestHelen！——dowhatyouwillwithyourown。
　　Ishouldnotdreamofwishingyouraunttoleavetheplaceunderanycircumstances；
　　andwewillliveeitherhereorelsewhereasyouandshemaydetermine，andyoushallseeherasoftenasyoulike。Iknowshemustbepainedtopartwithyou，andIamwillingtomakeanyreparationinmypower。Iloveherforyoursake，andherhappinessshallbeasdeartomeasthatofmyownmother。’
　　`Thankyou，darling！youshallhaveakissforthat。Goodbye。
　　Therenow——thereGilbert——letmego——here’sArthur，don’tastonishhisinfantilebrainwithyourmadness。’
　　Butitistimetobringmynarrativetoaclose——nyonebutyouwouldsayIhadmadeittoolongalready；butforyoursatisfaction，Iwilladdafewwordsmore；because，Iknowyouwillhaveafellow-feelingfortheoldlady，andwillwishtoknowthelastofherhistory。Ididcomeagaininspring，andagreeablytoHelen’sinjunctions，didmybesttocultivateheracquaintance。Shereceivedmeverykindly，havingbeendoubtless，alreadypreparedtothinkhighlyofmycharacter，byherniece’stoofavourablereport。Iturnedmybestsideoutofcourse，andwegotalongmarvellouslywelltogether。Whenmyambitiousintentionsweremadeknowntoher，shetookitmoresensiblythanIhadventuredtohope。Heronlyremarkonthesubject，inmyhearing，was——
　　`AndsoMr。Markham，youaregoingtorobmeofmynieceIunderstand。
　　Well！IhopeGodwillprosperyourunion，andmakemydeargirlhappyatlast。Couldshehavebeencontentedtoremainsingle，IownIshouldhavebeenbettersatisfied；butifshemustmarryagain，Iknowofnoone，nowlivingandofasuitableage，towhomIwouldmorewillinglyresignherthanyourself，orwhowouldbemorelikelytoappreciateherworthandmakehertrulyhappy，asfarasIcantell。’
　　OfcourseIwasdelightedwiththecompliment，andhopedtoshowhershewasnotmistakeninherfavourablejudgment。
　　`Ihave，however，onerequesttooffer，’continuedshe。`ItseemsIamstilltolookonStaningleyasmyhome：Iwishyoutomakeityourslikewise，forHelenisattachedtotheplaceandtomessIamtoher。TherearepainfulassociationsconnectedwithGrassdale，whichshecannoteasilyovercome；andIshallnotmolestyouwithmycompanyorinterferencehere：
　　Iamaveryquietperson，andshallkeepmyownapartmentsandattendtomyownconcerns，andonlyseeyounowandthen。’
　　OfcourseImostreadilyconsentedtothis；andwelivedinthegreatestharmonywithourdearauntuntilthedayofherdeath，whichmelancholyeventtookplaceafewyearsafter——melancholy，nottoherselfforitcamequietlyuponher，andshewasgladtoreachherjourney’send，butonlytothefewlovingfriendsandgratefuldependantssheleftbehind。
　　Toreturn，however，tomyownaffairs：Iwasmarriedinsummer，onagloriousAugustmorning。Ittookthewholeeightmonths，andallHelen’skindnessandgoodnesstoboot，toovercomemymother’sprejudicesagainstmybrideelect，andtoreconcilehertotheideaofmyleavingLinden-carandlivingsofaraway。Yetshewasgratifiedatherson’sgoodfortuneafterall，andproudlyattributeditalltohisownsuperiormeritsandendowments。IbequeathedthefarmtoFergus，withbetterhopesofitsprosperitythanIshouldhavehadayearagoundersimilarcircumstances；forhehadlatelyfalleninlovewiththevicarofL——’seldestdaughter，aladywhosesuperiorityhadrousedhislatentvirtuesandstimulatedhimtothemostsurprisingexertions，notonlytogainheraffectionandesteem，andtoobtainafortunesufficienttoenablehimtoaspiretoherhand，buttorenderhimselfworthyofher，inhisowneyes，aswellasinthoseofherparents；andintheendhewassuccessful，asyoualreadyknow。Asformyself，IneednottellyouhowhappilymyHelenandIhavelivedandlovedtogether，andhowblessedwestillareineachother’ssociety，andinthepromisingyoungscionsthataregrowingupaboutus。WearejustnowlookingforwardtotheadventofyouandRose，forthetimeofyourannualvisitdrawsnigh，whenyoumustleaveyourdusty，smoky，noisy，toiling，strivingcityforaseasonofinvigoratingrelaxationandsocialretirementwithus。
　　Tillthen，farewell，GILBERTMARKHAM。
　　Staningley，June10th，1847。
　　THEEND