will you be my wife--oh, when will you marry me, Hermione?"

For answer she reached up her arms, sudden, passionate arms that clung
about him close and strong; so they stood thus, heart beating to heart,
thrilling at each other's nearness yet drawing ever closer until,
lifting her head, she gave her lips to his.

"Oh, my dear, my dear," she whispered, "is it right to love you so,
I wonder? I never thought it could be--like this. It frightens me
sometimes, because my love is so great and strong and I--so powerless.
Is it right? I--Oh!" she broke off breathlessly, "how can I speak if--if
you--"

"Kiss you so much?" he ended, "you can't speak, so--don't speak, my
Hermione!" But now, all at once, he started and glanced up among the
leaves above them.

"Dear," she whispered, "what is it?"

"That tapping sound," he answered, still gazing upward.

"It's only the woodpecker."

"Why, of course!" he laughed. "It's strange, but I dreamed a scene like
this--yes, the great tree yonder, and you in my arms--though it seemed
so impossible then, and--"

But uttering a sudden, low cry of alarm, Hermione broke from his clasp
and fled from him along the leafy path while he stared after her, lost
in amazement; then he ran also and caught her upon the edge of the
little wood.

"What frightened you, Hermione--who was it?"

"I--I thought I saw some one crouching behind a bush--watching us!"

"Not--M'Ginnis?" he demanded, fierce-eyed.

"No--no, I'm sure it wasn't!"

"I'll go and look," said Ravenslee, clenching his fists. But now, as he
turned away, two round arms were about him again, soft and compelling,
and she was looking up at him, all shy-eyed, passionate tenderness; and
before the revelation in that look, he forgot all else in the world.

"Hermione--when will you marry me?"

Now, softened by distance, there floated to them the mellow booming of
a gong.

"That means I must go!" she sighed.

"Hermione--when will you marry me?"

"Good-by--good-by--I must run!"

But his long arms only clasped her the closer.

"Hermione, when will you be my wife?"

"Oh, please, please let me go; if I'm late--"

"When, Hermione?"

"When I--come home, if--you really--want me--Oh, now my hair's all
coming down, I know. Good-by!"

Reluctantly he loosed her and stood to watch until, reaching the
verandah of the house, she paused to glance back to where he stood among
the leaves ere she vanished between the screen doors. Then Ravens