“THE BACHELOR” ended with a proposal last night, as school psychologist Helene accepted Aaron Buerge’s hand in marriage.

“I’ve definitely fallen in love with you and I have a pretty big question for you,” Aaron said to Helene, getting down on one knee to propose. “So, Helene, will you marry me?”

“Yes, I will -without a doubt,” said a beaming Helene. “You’ve made me one of the happiest people in the world right now.”

But while Aaron and Helene celebrated their love, “Bachelor” runner-up Brooke, the blonde 22-year-old college student, ended the night in a torrent of tears.

“I knew who [Aaron’s] decision was when I saw him,” a weeping Brooke said after getting the bad news. “Why didn’t he know I was the one for him?”

Last night’s finale ended seven weeks of dating for Buerge, a Missouri banker who winnowed 25 women down to Helene and Brooke.

During last night’s finale, both women visited Buerge’s hometown of Springfield, Mo., meeting his mom, dad, grandma and brother.

But, in the end, Aaron’s emotions told him to ask 27-year-old Helene -he thought Brooke was too young.

Buerge had said from the very beginning of “The Bachelor” that he thought he could spend the rest of his life with Helene.

During her time with Aaron’s family, Helene went for an airplane ride in the family plane, rode in the family boat and visited the family’s lakeside house outside Springfield.

The last “Bachelor” series ended in undramatic fashion, when Alex Michel didn’t propose to Amanda Marsh, but rather said he wanted to get to know her better before taking “the next step.” Those two are currently said to be dating with no firm commitments from either side.

This “Bachelor” series also drew more viewers than last time, topping out with nearly 17 million viewers last week, when those women booted by Aaron returned to pick him, and each other, apart. It’s a good bet that last night’s “Bachelor” finale drew even more viewers, even though it was up against stiff competition from 9 to 10 p.m., with CBS airing its “Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.”

Aaron and Helene now have to decide when and where they will get married, and will, no doubt, undergo lots of media scrutiny as they prepare for their big day.

Aaron and Helene will make the talk-show rounds today.