he grassy bank beside the way and forthwith wept distractingly; though
had any been there to notice, it might have been remarked that her eyes
did not swell and her delicate nose did not turn red--yet she wept with
whole-hearted perseverance.

The Major grew restless, he looked up the lane and he looked down the
lane, he turned scowling eyes aloft to radiant moon and down to shadowy
earth; finally he took one long pace back towards her.

"Madam!" said he.

My lady sobbed and bowed her lovely head. The Major approached another
step.

"My lady!" he remonstrated.

My lady gasped and crouched lower. The Major approached nearer yet.

"Mam!"

My lady choked and sank full length upon the mossy turf. The Major
stooped above her.

"Betty!" said he anxiously. "You--you're never swooning?"

"O John!" she said in strangled voice.

"Great heavens!" he exclaimed. "Art ill--sick----?"

"At--at heart, John!" she murmured, stealing a look at his anxious
face. The Major stood suddenly erect, frowning a little.

"Madam!" said he. A deep sigh. "My lady--mam----"

"Do not--call me so!"

"You'll take a rheum--a cold, lying there--'tis a heavy dew!"

"Why then I will--let me, John."

"Pray get up, mam--my lady."

"Never, John!"

"Why then----" said he and paused to look up the lane once more.

"What, John?"

"You force me to----" He paused and glanced down the lane.

"To--what, John!"

"To carry you!"

"Never, John! For shame! Besides you couldn't. I'm a vast weight
and----"

The Major picked her up, then and there, and began to carry her down
the lane. And after they had gone some distance she sighed and with a
little wriggle disposed herself more comfortably; and after they had
gone further still he found two smooth, round arms about his neck and
thereafter a soft breath at his ear.

"Pray don't be angry with your Betty, John dear." The Major stopped
and stared down at her in the brilliant moonlight. Her eyes were
closed, her rosy lips just apart, curving to a smile; he drew a sudden
deep breath, and stooping his head, kissed her. For a long moment he
held her thus, lip to lip, then all at once he set her down on her feet.

"Gad!" he cried, "what kind of woman are you to lure and mad me with
your kisses----"

"Your woman, John."

"And yet--for aught I know----" the Major clenched his fists and
pressed them on his eyes as if to shut out some hateful vision--"ah
God, for aught I can be su