And at last came Lisbeth herself, swiftly, lightly, as fair and
sweet and fresh as the morning, who yet paused a while to lean upon
the balustrade and look down at me beneath the brim of her hat. Up
I rose and stretched out my hands to her, but she still stood there,
and I saw her cheeks were flushed and her eyes shy and tender. So
once more we stood upon the old water-stairs, she on the top stair,
I on the lower; and again I saw the little foot beneath her skirt
come slowly towards me and hesitate.
"Dick," she said, "you know that Aunt Agatha has cut me off
- disinherited me altogether - you have had time to think it all
over?"
"Yes."
"And you are quite - quite sure?"
"Quite! I think I have been so all my life."
"I'm penniless now, Dick, a beggar, with nothing in the world but
the clothes I wear."
"Yes," I said, catching her hands in mine, "my beggar-maid; the
loveliest, noblest, sweetest that ever stooped to bestow her love
on man.
"Dick, how glorious everything is this morning - the earth, the sky,
and the river!"
"It is our wedding morning!" said I.
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