The rush of wild delight, which thrilled through every portion of Flora's being at having thus offered to her a happiness so intense that she had not dared to expect it, was so great, that for a moment it deprived her of utterance; but raising her glistening eyes to his, she gave him _such_ a smile that he asked for no words to interpret its meaning, and drawing the already imprisoned hand within his arm, he held it there clasped to his heart, as he exclaimed--
"_My_ Flora! this moment repays, nay, overpays me for all that I have suffered!... But why do you tremble? Are you afraid of me? Have you not faith in me?"
It cost Flora an effort to speak--to shake off the exquisite emotion which the warm clasp of his hand caused her to feel; but surely any lover would have thought it an answer worth waiting for when at length she said--
"You might as well ask me if I had not faith in my own existence. All that I am afraid of is the intensity of my happiness."
"Generous Flora! not one word of doubt, although I could not offer you--what alone is worthy of you--a heart's _first_ homage; and yet in very truth I might say that I never really loved before. Now, indeed, can I forgive and forget that faithless one----"
"And _I_ can thank her for having left you free to offer me the treasure of your heart, and to receive mine in return whole and untouched--friendship only has it known until now! But 'tis all that I have to give, for fortune I have none, nor--as you see--beauty, and this last I would that I had for your dear sake."
"But you have it for me, Flora. Your beauty I would not have exchanged for that of a Venus di Medici!"
"Nay, turn not flatterer, or I shall be forced to _begin_ to doubt. But tell me, why did you treat me so icily when we met you at the Farnese Palace--to say nothing of the celebrated night at Mrs. Elton's?"
"So even then you noticed and felt my change of manner, Flora?" he asked in a low, thrilling tone, as he bent down and tried to get a full look at her face; but he could only see the bright red colour spreading even over her neck as she quickly turned away her head, and said gaily--
"Why, that is worthy of an Irishman! You answer my question with another, which I certainly shall not take any notice of; and now please to reply to mine."