After a little pause, during which we both walked on slowly, I too happy
to speak, Min squeezed my arm.
"Do you then love me so _very_ much, Frank?" she said; and, there was a
wistful look in her eyes, an earnest pathos in her voice, that touched
me to the heart.
"Love you, Min? I adore you! I dote on you! I worship the very ground
you walk on; and, if you were cruel to me, I think I would die to-
morrow!"
"Poor fellow!" she said, pressing closer to my side.
"O, Min,"--I went on,--"if you only knew the agony I have suffered in
thinking that you cared for some one else! I love you so much, that I
am jealous of every word you speak, every glance of your darling eyes
which is not directed to me. I envied my very dog the other day because
you caressed him!"
"What!" she exclaimed, "Jealous of poor Catch! Do you know, Frank, that
made me ove you first, your fondness for your dog and little Dicky
Chips!"
"You _do_ love me, then? O, Min, my darling!" I exclaimed in ecstasy.
"I didn't say so, did I?" she said, saucily. "Well, then," I entreated,
"say it now, sweet! Say that you love me, my darling!"
"You are much too exacting, sir!"--she said, drawing herself up with the
air of a haughty little Empress.--"I must consider your petition first."
"But you _do_ love me, darling; so why cannot you say it? Tell me, pet,
`Frank, I love you;' and, you'll make me happy for ever!" I pleaded.
"I _shan't_ be ordered," she said, with a piquante coquetry which made
her appear all the more winning.--"I'm not going to tell you anything of
the kind, for I won't be dictated to; but, I'll say `I love you, Frank.'
There! sir, will that please your lordship, although it is not in the
exact words you have asked me?"--and she made a pretty little gesture of
affected disdain.
"O Min, my love! my pet! my darling!"--said I, rapturously--