84 COUSIN PHILLIS.
her in her high tranquillity, her pure innocence. —
Two years! It is a long time. — But she lives in such seclusion, almost like the sleeping beauty, Paul," — (he was smiling now, though a minute before I had thought him on the verge of tears,) — "but I shall come back like a prince from Canada, and waken her to my love. I can't help hoping that it won't be difficult, eh, Paul?"
This touch of coxcombry displeased me a little, and I made no answer. He went on, half apologetically, —
"You see, the salary they offer me is large; and beside that, this experience will give me a name which will entitle me to expect a still larger in any future undertaking."
"That won't influence Philiis."
"No! but it will make me more eligible in the eyes of her father and mother."
I made no answer.
"You give me your best wishes, Paul," said he, almost pleading. "You would like me for a cousin?"
I heard the scream and whistle of the engine ready down at the sheds.
"Ay, that I should," I replied, suddenly softened towards my friend now that he was going away. "I wish you were to be married to-morrow, and I were to be best man."
"Thank you, lad. Now for this cursed portmanteau (how the minister would be shocked); but it is heavy!" and off we sped into the darkness.
He only just caught the night train at Eltham, and I slept, desolately enough, at my old lodgings at Miss Dawson's, for that night. Of course the next few days
