"Yes, papa," she whispered, turning her blushing face away from his keen, searching gaze.
"I can hardly bear to do it. My precious one, I don"t know how to resign you to another," he said in a voice low and tremulous with emotion, and holding her close to his heart; "but since it is your wish, I must. Take her, my friend, she is yours. But G.o.d do so to you, and more also, if ever you show her aught but love and tenderness."
He put her hand into Travilla"s, and turned to go. But she clung to him with the other. "Yours too, papa," she said, looking up into his sad face with eyes that were full of tears, "always your own daughter who loves you better than life."
"Yes, darling, and who is as dearly loved in return," he said, stooping to press another kiss on the ruby lips. "Let us be happy, for we are not to part." Then walking quickly away, he left them alone together.