nd money's tight up at the Vicarage, sir. Gals
must give up their fancies sometimes, sir. Lord! a brace of brats and
she'd forget all about 'em. I'm seventy years old and I've seen their
ways, sir, though in a humble calling. You should say a word to her,
sir; she'd thank you kindly five years after. You'd do her a good turn,
sir, you would, and not a bad un as the saying goes, and give it the
lie--no, beg your pardon, that is the other way round--she's bound to
do you the bad turn having saved your life, though I don't see how she
could do that unless, begging your pardon, she made you fall in love
with her, being married, which though strange wouldn't be wunnerful
seeing what she is and seeing how I has been in love with her myself
since she was seven, old missus and all, who died eight years gone and
well rid of the rheumatics."

Beatrice was one of the few subjects that could unlock old Edward's
breast, and Geoffrey retired before his confusing but suggestive
eloquence. Hurriedly bidding the old man good-night he returned to the
house, and leaning on the gate watched the twilight dying on the bosom
of the west.

Suddenly, a bunch of wild roses in her girdle, Beatrice emerged from the
gathering gloom and stood before him face to face.

CHAPTER XXI

THE THIRD APPEAL

Face to face they stood, while at the vision of her sweetness his heart
grew still. Face to face, and the faint light fell upon her tender
loveliness and died in her deep eyes, and the faint breeze fragrant with
the breath of pines gently stirred her hair. Oh, it was worth living to
see her thus!

"I beg your pardon," she said in a puzzled tone, stepping forward to
pass the gate.

"_Beatrice!_"

She gave a little cry, and clutched the railing, else she would have
fallen. One moment she stayed so, looking up towards his face that was
hid in the deepening shadow--looking with wild eyes of hope and fear and
love.

"Is it you," she said at length, "or another dream?"

"It is I, Beatrice!" he answered, amazed.

She recovered herself with an effort.

"Then why did you frighten me so?" she asked. "It was unkind--oh, I did
not mean to say anything cross. What did I say? I forget. I am so glad
that you have come!" and she put her hand to her forehead and looked at
him again as one might gaze at a ghost from the grave.

"Did you not expect me?" Geoffrey asked.

"Expect you? no. No more than I expected----" and she stopped suddenly.

"It is