re----"

"What, John?"

"He--he hath kissed you too, this night----"

"But he hath not, John--nor ever shall."

"Yet I saw you in his arms----" My lady sighed and bowed her head.

"The beast is always and ever the beast!" she said.

"How came you with him in a wood--after midnight?"

"For sufficient reasons, John."

"There never was reason sufficient--nay, not even your brother----"

"Nay dear John, I think different----"

"To peril that sweet body----" The Major choked.

"Nay, I'm very strong--and--and I have this!"

The Major scowled at the small, silver-mounted weapon and turned away.

"There is your maiden reputation----"

"That is indeed mine own, and in good keeping. Grieve not your woeful
head on that score."

"Ah Betty, why will you run such hazard----"

"Because 'tis so my will, sir." The Major bowed.

"'Tis long past midnight, madam."

"Aye, 'tis a sweet hour--so still and solitary."

"Shall we proceed, madam?"

"At your pleasure, sir." So they went on side by side silently awhile,
the Major a little grim and very stately.

"I do think John thou'rt very mannish at times."

"Mannish, madam?"

"Blind, overbearing and apt to be a little muddled."

The Major bowed. "For instance, John, methinks you do muddle a woman
of will with a wilful woman." The Major bowed. "Now if, John, if in
cause so just I should risk--not my body but my name--my fame, who
shall stay me seeing I'm unwed and slave to no man yet--God be
thanked." The Major bowed lower than ever and went beside her with his
grandest air. "'Deed John," she sighed, "if you do grow any more
dignified I fear you'll expire and perish o' pride and high-breeding."

The distant clock struck two as, turning down a certain bye-lane, the
Major paused at a rustic door that gave into my lady's herb-garden.
But when he would have opened it she stayed him.

"'Tis so late, John----"

"Indeed 'tis very late, madam!"

"Too late to sleep this night. And such a night, John--the moon, O the
moon!"

"What o' the moon, madam?"

"John d'Arcy I do protest if you bow or say 'madam' again I--I'll bite
you! And the moon is--is--the moon and looks vastly romantic and
infinite appealing. So will I walk and gaze upon her pale loveliness
and sigh and sigh and--sigh again, sir."

"But indeed you cannot walk abroad--at this hour----"

"Having the wherewithal I can sir, and I will, sir."

"But 'tis after two----"

"Then sir, in but a l