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“‘Will you give me Kate? I want Kate,’ I whispered.

“‘I will, my boy. That is, if she’ll have you. That is, I mean to say, if you produce the true tawny.’

“‘Of course, uncle; honour bright–as port in a storm,’ I answered, trembling in my shoes and everything else I had on, for I was not more than three parts confident in the result.

“The gentlemen beside Kate happening at the moment to be occupied, each with the lady on his other side, I went behind her, and whispered to her as I had whispered to my uncle, though not exactly in the same terms. Perhaps I had got a little courage from the champagne I had drunk; perhaps the presence of the company gave me a kind of mesmeric strength; perhaps the excitement of the whole venture kept me up; perhaps Kate herself gave me courage, like a goddess of old, in some way I did not understand. At all events I said to her:

“‘Kate,’–we had got so far even then–‘my uncle hasn’t another bottle of port in his cellar. Consider what a state General Fortescue will be in soon. He’ll be tipsy for want of it. Will you come and help me to find a bottle or two?’

“She rose at once, with a white-rose blush–so delicate I don’t believe any one saw it but myself. But the shadow of a stray ringlet could not fall on her cheek without my seeing it.

“When we got into the hall, the wind was roaring loud, and the few lights were flickering and waving gustily with alternate light and shade across the old portraits which I had known so well as a child–for I used to think what each would say first, if he or she came down out of the frame and spoke to me.

“I stopped, and taking Kate’s hand, I said–

“‘I daren’t let you come farther, Kate, before I tell you another thing: my uncle has promised, if I find him a dozen of port–you must have seen what a state the poor man is in–to let me say something to you–I suppose he meant your mamma, but I prefer saying it to you, if you will let me. Will you come and help me to find the port?’

“She said nothing, but took up a candle that was on a table in the hall, and stood waiting. I ventured to look at her. Her face was now celestial rosy red, and I could not doubt that she had understood me. She looked so beautiful that I stood staring at her without moving. What the servants could have been about that not one of them crossed the hall, I can’t think.

“At last Kate laughed and said–‘Well?’ I started, and I dare say took my turn at blushing. At least I did not know what to say. I had forgotten all about the guests inside. ‘Where’s the port?’ said Kate. I caught hold of her hand again and kissed it.”

“You needn’t be quite so minute in your account, my dear,” said my mother, smiling.

“I will be more careful in future, my love,” returned my father.

“‘What do you want me to do?’ said Kate.

“‘Only to hold the candle for me,’ I answered, restored to my seven senses at last; and, taking it from her, I led the way, and she followed, till we had passed through the kitchen and reached the cellar-stairs. These were steep and awkward, and she let me help her down.”

“Now, Edward!” said my mother.

“Yes, yes, my love, I understand,” returned my father.

“Up to this time your mother had asked no questions; but when we stood in a vast, low cellar, which we had made several turns to reach, and I gave her the candle, and took up a great crowbar which lay on the floor, she said at last–

“‘Edward, are you going to bury me alive? or what are you going to do?’