und on
opening it that it came from him. The contents frightened me out of my
wits. He had returned from Canada to his father's house, and conjured me
by all he could think of to meet him at once. But I think I can repeat
the exact words, though I will show it to you when we get indoors.

"MY DEAR COUSIN HARRIET," the note said, "After this long absence you
will be surprised at my sudden reappearance, and more by what I am
going to ask. But if my life and future are of any concern to you at
all, I beg that you will grant my request. What I require of you, is,
dear Harriet, that you meet me about eleven to-night by the Druid
stones on Marlbury Downs, about a mile or more from your house. I
cannot say more, except to entreat you to come. I will explain all
when you are there. The one thing is, I want to see you. Come alone.
Believe me, I would not ask this if my happiness did not hang upon
it--God knows how entirely! I am too agitated to say more--Yours.
FRED."

'That was all of it. Now, of course I ought have gone, as it turned out,
but that I did not think of then. I remembered his impetuous temper, and
feared that something grievous was impending over his head, while he had
not a friend in the world to help him, or any one except myself to whom
he would care to make his trouble known. So I wrapped myself up and went
to Marlbury Downs at the time he had named. Don't you think I was
courageous?'

'Very.'

'When I got there--but shall we not walk on; it is getting cold?' The
Duke, however, did not move. 'When I got there he came, of course, as a
full grown man and officer, and not as the lad that I had known him. When
I saw him I was sorry I had come. I can hardly tell you how he behaved.
What he wanted I don't know even now; it seemed to be no more than the
mere meeting with me. He held me by the hand and waist--O so tight--and
would not let me go till I had promised to meet him again. His manner
was so strange and passionate that I was afraid of him in such a lonely
place, and I promised to come. Then I escaped--then I ran home--and
that's all. When the time drew on this evening for the
appointment--which, of course, I never intended to keep, I felt uneasy,
lest when he found I meant to disappoint him he would come on to the
house; and that's why I could not sleep. But you are so silent!'

'I have had a long journey.'

'Then let us get into the house. Why d