"So I was, but I will grow bolder now. Such beauty, such purity, such
goodness as yours would awe anyone. I can hardly believe now in my own
good fortune. Say it again, darling."

She raised her sweet face to mine.

"I love you," she said, simply; and it seemed to me the words died away
in the summer wind more sweetly than an echo from heaven would die.

"And you will be my wife? Agatha, promise me."

"I will be your wife," she said; and then, to my thinking, we went
straight away to fairyland.

I do not remember the sun setting, although it must have set; for when
my senses returned to me a servant was standing before us, saying that
Lady Thesiger was afraid it was growing cold.

There lay the dew shining on the trees and flowers, yet we had not even
seen it fall.




CHAPTER IX.


I would not leave the manor house until I had seen Sir John. Agatha did
not go back to the drawing-room with me.