Gertrude

a beautiful evening ; besides, you were so fully engaged, I should only have been an interruption." " Not that, indeed," exclaimed Gertrude, in. an eager, trembling voice: " I was wishing for you so much?I thought?I wanted " "Anything that I can give?" said Mr Dacre, struck by the hesitation so foreign to her usual manner. " I do not know," replied Gertrude, struggling to regain self-possession ; " and yet I do know.?If you would listen to me?I think that is what I want most." " You are looking upon me as a stranger," said Mr Dacre, in a tone of gentle reproof, " and it does me injustice. I was a father once, and I have not forgotten a father's feelings." Gertrude tried to answer, but her words came with difficulty. " I will tell you," she said at length, " but indeed I do not think of you as a stranger; if I did, I could not let you know what is in my thoughts." She stopped again; and Mr Dacre looked at her inquiringly,? " Do not keep me in suspense," he said ; " if I can be of any service, you have only to name it." " I don't know why I should trouble you," replied Gertrude ; and -then, unheeding the appearance of abruptness, she continued, rapidly, " I have a wish? a great wish : it has been in my mind for years?and I think it is right, but I am not sure. It is such an important thing ; so very serious ; it does not seem as if it could be intended for me to do it;?only I have the means. I?I wish,?I should like,"?and with evident effort the...