They sat down, and for a few moments a deep silence fell over them, broken only by the ripple of the water and the sound of distant music.
"Hyacinth," said Adrian, gently, "I little thought, when I came here four short weeks since, thinking of nothing but reading three chapters of Goethe before breakfast, that I should find my fate--the fairest and sweetest fate that ever man found. I believe that I loved you then--at that first moment--as dearly as I love you now. You seemed to creep into my heart and nestle there. Until I die there will be no room in my heart for any other."
She sat very still, listening to his passionate words, letting her hands lie within his. It seemed to her like a king coming to take possession of his own.
"I can offer you," he said, "the deepest, best, and purest, love. It has not been frittered away on half a dozen worthless objects. You are my only love. I shall know no other. Hyacinth, will you be my wife?"
It had fallen at last, this gleam of sunlight that had dazzled her so long by its brightness; it had fallen at her feet, and it blinded her.
"Will you be my wife, Hyacinth? Do not say 'Yes' unless you love me; nor because it is any one's wish; nor because Lady Vaughan may have said, 'It would be a suitable arrangement.' But say it if you love me--if you are happy with me."
He remembered in after-years how what she said puzzled him. She clasped her little white hands; she bent her head in sweetest humility.
He laughed aloud in the joy of his heart. "Not worthy? I know best about that, Hyacinth. I know that from the whole world I choose you for my wife, my queen, my love, because you are the fairest, the truest, the purest woman in it. I know that, if a king were kneeling here in my place, your love would crown him. It is I who am not worthy, sweet. What man is worthy of love so pure as yours? Tell me, Hyacinth, will you be my wife?"
The grave pallor left her face; a thousand little gleams and lights seemed to play over it.
"My wife--to love me, to help me while we both live."
"I--I cannot think that you love me," she said, gently. "You are so gifted, so noble, so clever--so brave and so strong."
"And what are you?" he asked, laughingly.
"I am nothing--nothing, that is, compared to you."