conceal. He was sure that Anne was being sheltered in the
house, and that it was Anne who cleaned the gravestone. Perhaps George
Franklin was giving her shelter since she had helped his rascal of a
brother to escape. Thus thinking, he went through the wood with the
intention of going home. A glance at his watch told him it was after
eight.

Suddenly it occurred to him that it would be a good time to pay a visit
to the graveyard and see if anything new had been done to the grave. All
the people were within doors at this hour, and the churchyard would be
quiet. Having made up his mind, he walked in the direction of the church
and vaulted the low wall that divided that graveyard from the park. He
saw Daisy's grave. Bending over it a woman. She looked up with a
startled cry. It was Anne Denham.

CHAPTER XVII

PART OF THE TRUTH

For a moment the lovers stared at one another in the luminous twilight.
The meeting was so strange, the place where it took place so significant
of the trouble that had parted them, that both were overcome with
emotion. Anne was as white as the marble tombstone, and looked at him
with appealing eyes that beseeched him to go away. But having found her
Giles was determined not to lose her again, and was the first to find
his tongue.

"Anne!" said he, and stepped towards her with open arms.

His voice broke the spell which held her chained to the ill-omened spot,
and she turned to fly, only to find herself on his breast and his dear
voice sounding entreatingly in her ears.

"Anne," he said in a hoarse whisper, "you will not leave me now?"

After a brief struggle she surrendered herself. There was no danger of
any one coming to the churchyard at this hour, and since they had met so
unexpectedly, she--like the tender, sweet woman she was--snatched at the
blissful moment. "Giles," she murmured, and it was the first time he had
heard her lips frame his name. "Giles!"

Again there was a silence between them, but one of pure joy and
transcendental happiness. Come what might, nothing could banish the
memory of that moment. They were heart to heart and each knew that the
other loved. There was no need of words. Giles felt that here was the
one woman for him; and Anne nestled in those beloved arms like a wild
bird sheltering from storm.

But the storm which buffeted her wings would tear her from this refuge.
The passionate delight of that second of Eden passed like a shadow on
the sun dial.