er hand was sufficient for the present. He was still
doubtful of his fortune and unnerved by his temerity. He felt aloof and
disembodied--an uninvolved spectator. And this was love, the journey's
end--this smiling stillness, which was so different from anything he had
imagined!

They entered Mulberry Tree Court and drew up before the house with the
marigold-tinted curtains. It was while they were waiting for the door to
be opened that he broke the silence. Smiling down at her with a guilty,
glad expression he asked, "We're engaged now, I suppose?"

She returned his smile less certainly. "I'm ashamed. But you won't
go----"

He laughed at the folly of her question. "Go, when I've got you, the
woman whom I wanted!"

"Then you won't go exploring? You won't exchange me for hardships?"

"Di, dearest, I've done with searching."

The door was opening. She pulled herself together. Porter stood before
them, neatly laundered, with the old suspicious meekness in her glance.

"Good morning, Porter. We've come to see Miss Beddow. We've been told
that she's staying with my sister."

"She is, your Ladyship. But none of them are down. She arrived so late
and unexpected."

They followed her across the hall into the sun-filled drawing-room, with
its fragrant flowers, tall windows, rockery-garden and little oval pond,
with the toy boat floating on its surface. The moment the door had
closed, he had her in his arms. Now that he was sure of her possession,
he held her desperately as if he feared that he were going to lose her.
"Closer," she whispered. "Closer." It flashed through his memory that
the last time he was in that room, he had been the spectator of just
such a union and had fled from it because he was excluded.

She stirred against him, lifting up her face.

"This time you're really crying," he whispered. Stooping he pressed her
lips. "They always told me you never----"

Freeing her arms, she clasped him tightly about the neck. He could feel
the weight of her body, dragging his face lower. She kissed him
passionately, stopping his breath, as though she would breathe into him
her very soul. "Oh, my dearest--my very dear! How cruel you were! You
made me ask you. I thought I'd never get you."

The door was opening. Terry was watching them. The first they knew of
her presence was when she spoke.

"You came to see me."

They broke apart like shameful children and stood regarding her, their
hands just touching. She see