That day has shone this long time

　　'Annie, my pure heart!' said the Doctor, 'my dear girl!'

　　'A little more! a very few words more!  I used to think there were so many  whom you might have married,  who would not have  brought such charge and  trouble on you, and who  would have made  your home a  worthier home.  I  used to be afraid that I had better  have remained your pupil,  and almost your child.   I used to fear that I was so  unsuited to your learning and  wisdom.  If all this made  me shrink within myself (as indeed it did),  when I had that to tell, it  was still because I honoured you so much, and hoped that you might one day honour me.'

　　'That day has shone  this long time, Annie,'  said the Doctor, and  can have but one long night, my dear.'

　　'Another word!  I afterwards meant  - steadfastly meant, and purposed  to myself to bear the whole weight of knowing the unworthiness of one to whom you had been so good.  And now a  last word, dearest and best  of friends!  The cause of  the late change in  you, which I  have seen with  so much pain  and sorrow, and have sometimes  referred  to  my  old apprehension  -  at  other  times to  lingering suppositions  nearer to  the truth  - has  been made  clear tonight;  and by  an accident I have also come to know, tonight, the full measure of your noble trust in me,  even under  that mistake.  I do  not hope  that any  love and duty I may render in return,  will ever make  me worthy of  your priceless confidence;  but with all this  knowledge fresh upon  me, I can  lift my eyes  to this dear face, revered as a father's, loved as a  husband's, sacred to me in my childhood  as a friend's, and solemnly declare that in my lightest thought I have never  wronged you; never wavered in the love and the fidelity I owe you!'

　　She had her arms around the Doctor's neck, and he leant his head down over  her, mingling his grey hair with her dark brown tresses.

　　'Oh, hold me  to your heart,  my husband!  Never  cast me out!   Do not think or speak  of  disparity between  us,  for there  is  none, except  in  all my  many imperfections.   Every succeeding  year I  have known  this better,  as I   have esteemed you more and more.  Oh, take me to your heart, my husband, for my  love was founded on a rock, and it endures!'

　　In the silence that  ensued, my aunt walked  gravely up to Mr.  Dick, without at all hurrying herself, and gave him a  hug and a sounding kiss.  And it  was very fortunate, with a view to his credit, that she did so; for I am confident that I detected him at that  moment in the act  of making preparations to  stand on one leg, as an appropriate expression of delight.