saidthegeneral'slady;butshedidnotsayanythingmore.

duringthebeautifulsummer-timemr.georgeseveraltimesvisitedthecountathiscastle;andhewasmissedwhenhedidnotcome.

"howmuchthegoodgodhasgivenyouthathehasnotgiventouspoormortals,"saidemilytohim."areyousureyouareverygratefulforit?"

itflatteredgeorgethatthelovelyyounggirlshouldlookuptohim,andhethoughtthenthatemilyhadunusuallygooddthegeneralfeltmoreandmoreconvincedthatgeorgewasnocellar-child.

"hismotherwasaverygoodwoman,"heobserved."itisonlyrightishoulddoherthatjusticenowsheisinhergrave."

thesummerpassedaway,andthewintercame;againtherewastalkaboutmr.george.hewashighlyrespected,andwasreceivedinthefirstcircles.thegeneralhadmethimatacourtball.

andnowtherewasaballtobegiveninthegeneral'shouseforemily,andcouldmr.georgebeinvitedtoit?

"hewhomthekinginvitescanbeinvitedbythegeneralalso,"saidthegeneral,anddrewhimselfuptillhestoodquiteaninchhigherthanbefore.

mr.georgewasinvited,andhecame;princesandcountscame,andtheydanced,onebetterthantheother.butemilycouldonlydanceonedance-thefirst;forshemadeafalsestep-nothingofconsequence;butherfoothurther,sothatshehadtobecareful,andleaveoffdancing,andlookattheothers.soshesatandlookedon,andthearchitectstoodbyherside.

"isupposeyouaregivingherthewholehistoryofst.peter's,"saidthegeneral,ashepassedby;andsmiled,likethepersonificationofpatronage.

withthesamepatronizingsmilehereceivedmr.georgeafewdaysafterwards.theyoungmancame,nodoubt,toreturnthanksfortheinvitationtotheball.whatelsecoulditbe?butindeedtherewassomethingelse,somethingveryastonishingandstartling.hespokewordsofsheerlunacy,sothatthegeneralcouldhardlybelievehisownears.itwas"theheightofrhodomontade,"anoffer,quiteaninconceivableoffer-mr.georgecametoaskthehandofemilyinmarriage!

"man!"criedthegeneral,andhisbrainseemedtobeboiling."idon'tunderstandyouatall.whatisityousay?whatisityouwant?idon'tknowyou.sir!man!whatpossessesyoutobreakintomyhouse?andamitostandhereandlistentoyou?"hesteppedbackwardsintohisbed-room,lockedthedoorbehindhim,andleftmr.georgestandingalone.georgestoodstillforafewminutes,andthenturnedroundandlefttheroom.emilywasstandinginthecorridor.

"myfatherhasanswered?"shesaid,andhervoicetrembled.

georgepressedherhand.

"hehasescapedme,"hereplied;"butabettertimewillcome."

thereweretearsinemily'seyes,butintheyoungman'seyesshonecourageandconfidence;andthesunshonethroughthewindow,andcasthisbeamsonthepair,andgavethemhisblessing.

thegeneralsatinhisroom,burstinghot.yes,hewasstillboiling,untilheboiledoverintheexclamation,"lunacy!porter!madness!"

notanhourwasoverbeforethegeneral'sladyknewitoutofthegeneral'sownmouth.shecalledemily,andremainedalonewithher.

"youpoorchild,"shesaid;"toinsultyouso!toinsultusso!therearetearsinyoureyes,too,buttheybecomeyouwell.youlookbeautifulintears.youlookasilookedonmywedding-pon,mysweetemily."

"yes,thatimust,"saidemily,"ifyouandmyfatherdonotsay'yes.'"

"child!"