I hardly knew it then; but,
when I was away from you, I was myself surprised to find how vivid
your impression upon my mind remained. When my cousin asked me to
accompany her here, I silently resolved, that, before I returned
home, I would see you again; would study as deeply as I might the
character I already guessed. Then, Dora, when I saw you, as I have
seen you in these last weeks, struggling so nobly to render complete
the sacrifice you came hither to make; when I saw the sweetness, the
power, the loftiness, and the divine truth, of your nature, shining
more clearly day by day, and yourself the only one unconscious of
the priceless value of such a nature,--then, Dora, I came to know for
truth what I tell you now, God hearing me, that you are the woman of
all the world whom I love, honor, and undeservingly long to make my
own. Once more, Dora,--and you cannot now refuse to answer me at
least,--once more I ask, do you or can you love me?"
He grasped her hands in both his own, and his keen eyes read her
very soul. She raised hers as steadily to meet them; and, though the
hot blush seemed to scorch her very brow, she answered,--
"I did not know it, quite, until to-day; but I believe-I think-I
have cared about you ever since a year ago.
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