Page:Bianca, or, The Young Spanish Maiden (Toru Dutt).djvu/40

gentle tones, for he had not spoken since he entered, his calling her by her Christian name, made her start and flush up. He saw it, and bending down; "Your father has consented Bianca to give you to me; do you consent also to be my wife?" said he softly. She bent her head meekly. She took his hand and pressed her lips on it. That was her only reply. She was too happy to speak. He kissed the bended head solemnly and tenderly. "My beloved wife!" "My noble lord!" This was how they plighted their troth. They did not speak much at first; His hand clasped hers in a strung tender clasp. Presently he broke the silence. "Bianca" (how sweet her name sounded pronounced by his lips) "you must get well very fast: I am anxious to take my bride home to my father's house." He added, smiling. Her heart sank a little. "And my father, my lord,"—said she with an unsteady voice. "He will live with us Bianca." She shook her head sadly. "He will never live with Lady Moore." "But it's not to the old house we are going; my mother and Maggie will live there; we are going to "Montague House" in Wales; your father will stay there with us; I have arranged it all with him; I knew he could not live without his Bianca." And he smiled. "How kind you are, my lord!" "You mustn't call me, my lord, any more, Bianca,"—smiling and passing his hand over her hair;—"What shall I call you, my lord?" "There! you've said it again! But you pronounce it so prettily, that I have hardly the heart to forbid you. But my mother would curl her lip if she heard you call me so, now that we are betrothed; she would say you wore "a romantic young chit." "But you are my lord now more than ever." She replied with a proud, happy smile "Henry? Every body calls you Henry!" "Well then the other name,"—smiling; "you like Montague I know." "How do you know that, my lord?" "Why; once while you were delirious you asked Will to kiss you for Montague's sake." "Did I?" and a faint flush came to her cheeks. "Did Will come to see me?" "No; it wasn't Will; it was Will's brother," smiling "who kissed you before he went away, and you asked for another, 'for Montague's sake'!"