humley. I can
feel that it would be better so. The agony of knowing that you were
near, not seeing you, or seeing you only in public, would be more than I
could bear, and--there is your engagement! I can't write of that, or of
her--but surely for a time at least, you would be better apart! And we
must school ourselves, Dane--we must get accustomed.

"Oh, beloved, just once, before it is good-bye, I thank you for loving
me,--I thank you for all you have given, I thank you for all you have
received. It was only for a little time, but you _did_ open the gates
of Eden! we _did_ walk in Paradise; we did taste and know the perfection
of content! It was all beautiful, all clean, all white, and because it
can't live on and keep its beauty, we'll bury it, Dane, deep in our
hearts, and live on as bravely as we may!

"Cassandra."

Dane's reply came by return of post:

"Beloved! Mrs Beverley sent for me and gave me your message. I have
been to see her every day since you left. I don't know how I should
have existed without her. Every day has seemed a year. I made sure you
would write; I knew you _must_ write, but it was a long waiting.

"Yes! I willed you to come to me that night. I nearly succeeded, it
appears. God forgive me, I wish it had been quite! Every hour of those
long days I hoped against hope for a summons from you, and then at last
Wednesday came, and I made sure of meeting.--I nearly went mad, sitting
in that summer-house, realising that you were not coming, imagining all
kinds of wild, impossible things. It was balm to know that at least you
had _wanted_ to come.

"God bless you, my beautiful, for your sweet, words! My love for you
has been the glory of my life. From the first moment that we met, you
have been my Queen, and I your servant, waiting to obey. I will obey
you now. Since it will be easier for you if I am at a distance, I will
arrange to leave Chumley at once. Things fit in easily. I dropped
Paley a hint that I was unsettled, and he sends me the kindest
invitation to join him in Italy. I shall go there, I think, for the
next few months, and your wonderful Grizel is already planning for the
future. There are a number of wealthy relations, so to speak, at her
feet, having come into their wealth through her disinterestedness in
marrying Beverley, and amongst them such a thing as a small land agency
should be easily obtained.

"We'll see! I can't think about the future at presen