that Jemima's letter was still in his pocket. And, therefore, much as he
disliked the appearance of vacillation and weakness, he was obliged to be
at the farmhouse before sunrise to post it.

"If I see her," Gregory said, "I shall only bow to her. She shall see that
I am a man, one who keeps his word."

As to Jemima's letter, he had turned down one corner of the page, and then
turned it back, leaving a deep crease. That would show that he was neither
accepted nor rejected, but that matters were in an intermediate condition.
It was a more poetical way then putting it in plain words.

Gregory was barely in time with his letter, for Waldo was starting when he
reached the homestead, and Em was on the doorstep to see him off. When he
had given the letter, and Waldo had gone, Gregory bowed stiffly and
prepared to remount his own pony, but somewhat slowly. It was still early;
none of the servants were about. Em came up close to him and put her
little hand softly on his arm as he stood by his horse.

"I do love you best of all," she said. She was not frightened now, however
much he kissed her. "I wish I was beautiful and nice," she added, looking
up into his eyes as he held her against his breast.

"My darling, to me you are more beautiful than all the women in the world;
dearer to me than everything it holds. If you were in hell I would go
after you to find you there! If you were dead, though my body moved, my
soul would be under the ground with you. All life as I pass with you in my
arms will be perfect to me. It will pass, pass like a ray of sunshine."

Em thought how beautiful and grand his face was as she looked up into it.