A very merry, happy little woman she was through all those weeks and months, Edward as devoted as any lover, and as gay and light-hearted as herself.

“Zoe, darling,” Edward said one day at dinner, “I must drive over into our little village of Union—­by the way, do you know that we have more than a hundred towns of that name in these United States?”

“No, I did not know, or suspect, that we had nearly so many,” she interrupted, laughing:  “no wonder letters go astray when people are not particular to give the names of both county and State.  But what were you going to say about driving over there?”

“I must see a gentleman on business, who will be there to meet the five-o’clock train, and leave on it; and, in order to be certain of seeing him, I must be there at least fifteen or twenty minutes before it is due.  Shall I have the pleasure of my wife’s company in the carriage?  I have ordered it to be at the door by fifteen or twenty minutes past four, which will give us plenty of time, as it is an easy matter to drive from here to Union in ten minutes.”

“Thank you,” she said.  “I accept the invitation with pleasure, and promise to be ready at the minute.”

“You are the best little woman about that,” he returned, with an appreciative look and smile.  “I don’t remember that you have ever yet kept me waiting, when told beforehand at what time I intended to start.”

“Of course not,” she said, with a pleased laugh; “because I was afraid, if I did, I shouldn’t be invited so often:  and I’m always so glad to go with you.”

“Not gladder than I am to have you,” he said, with a very lover-like glance and smile.  “I always enjoy your society, and am always proud to show my friends and acquaintances what a dear little wife I have.  I dare say I’m looked upon as a very fortunate fellow in that respect, and sometimes envied on account of having drawn such a prize in the matrimonial lottery.”

They had left the table while he spoke, and with the last words he passed his arm round her waist.

“Dear me, Ned, what a gallant speech!” she said, flushing with delight; “you deserve a reward:”  and she held up her face for a kiss.

“I am overpaid,” he said, when he had bestowed it.

“In spite of the coin being such as you have a right to help yourself to whenever you will?” she returned with a merry laugh.  “O Ned, my lover-husband!” she added, laying her head on his breast, “I am so happy in belonging to you, and I can never love you enough for all your goodness to me!”

“Darling, are you not equally good and loving to me?” he asked in tender tones, and holding her close.

“But I owe every thing to you,” she responded with emotion.  “If you had not come to my aid when my dear father was taken from me, what would have become of me, a mere child, without a near relative in the world, alone and destitute in a foreign land?”