to have me do?"

"This--but recollect you are free to say me nay, without scruple or
hesitation. I shall not require you to give your reasons, but shall bow,
unreservedly, to your wishes. For you possess a touchstone in such
questions as the one now troubling me, which, did I ever possess it, I
lost, as do most men, rather lamentably early in my career. If you suffer
me to do so, I will ask Darcy Faircloth to bring his mother here to me,
this evening at dusk, when her coming will not challenge impertinent
observation--so that I may be satisfied no bitterness colours her thought
of me and that we part in peace, she and I."

Damaris got up from her seat on the arm of the red-covered chair. She
stood rigid, her expression reserved to blankness, but her head
carried high.

"Of course," she said, a little hoarsely, and waited. "Of course. How
could I object? Wasn't it superfluous even to ask me? Your word,
dearest, is law."

"But in the present case hardly gospel?"

"Yes--gospel too--since it is your word. Gospel, that is, for me. Let
Darcy Faircloth bring his mother here by all means. Only I think,
perhaps, this is all a little outside my province. It would be better you
should make the--the appointment with him yourself. I will send to him
directly. Patch can take a note over to the island. I would prefer to
have Patch go as messenger than either of the other men."

She walked towards the door. Stopped half-way and turned, hearing her
father move. And as she turned--her eyes quick with enquiry as to his
case, but inscrutable as to her own--Charles Verity rose too and held
out his arms in supreme invitation. She came swiftly forward and kissed
him, while with all the poor measure of force left him, he strained her
to his breast.

"Have I asked too much from you, Damaris, and, in the desire to make
sure of peace elsewhere, endangered the perfection of my far dearer
peace with you?"

She leaned back from the waist, holding her head away from him and laid
her hand on his lips.

"Don't blaspheme, most beloved," she said, "I have no will but yours."

Again she kissed him, disengaged herself very gently, and went.

CHAPTER VIII

CHAPTER THE EIGHTH WHICH IS ALSO CHAPTER THE LAST

At Lady's Oak--an ancient forest boundary--where the main road forks,
Damaris swung the dog-cart to the left, across the single-arch stone
bridge spanning the Arne; and on, up the long winding ascent from the
valley-bottom to the