h her hair. She returned in two minutes to find Jim, very proud of
his success, setting out a crusty home-made loaf, a large cheese, and a
foaming tankard of ale.

Lady Ingleby longed for tea, and had never in her life drunk ale out of a
pewter pot. But not for worlds would she have spoiled Jim Airth's boyish
delight in the success of his raid on the larder.

So they sat at the centre table, Myra in Miss Murgatroyd's place, and Jim
in Susie's, and consumed their bread-and-cheese, and drank their beer,
with huge appetites and prodigious enjoyment. And Jim used Miss
Susannah's napkin, and pretended to be sentimental over it. And Myra
reproved him, after the manner of Miss Murgatroyd reproving Susie. After
which they simultaneously exclaimed: "Oh, my dear love!" in Miss Eliza's
most affecting manner; then linked fingers for a wish, and could neither
of them think of one.

By the time they had finished, and cleared away, it was half past five.
They passed into the hall together.

"You must get some more sleep," said Jim Airth, authoritatively.

"I will, if you wish it," whispered Myra; "but I never, in my whole life,
felt so strong or so rested. Jim, I shall sit at your table, and pour out
your coffee at breakfast. Let's aim to have it at nine, as usual. It will
be such fun to watch the Murgatroyds, and to remember our cheese and
beer. If you are down first, order our breakfasts at the same table."

"All right," said Jim Airth.

Myra commenced mounting the stairs, but turned on the fifth step and hung
over the banisters to smile at him.

Jim Airth reached up his hand. "How can I let you go?" he exclaimed
suddenly.

Myra leaned over, and smiled into his adoring eyes.

"How can I go?" she whispered, tenderly.

Jim Airth took both her hands in his. His eyes blazed up into hers.

"Myra," he said, "when shall we be married?"

Myra's face flamed, just as the soft white clouds had flamed when the sun
arose. But she met the fire of his eyes without flinching.

"When you will, Jim," she answered gently.

"As soon as possible, then," said Jim Airth, eagerly.

Myra withdrew her hands, and mounted two more steps; then turned to bend
and whisper: "Why?"

"Because," replied Jim Airth, "I do not know how to bear that there
should be a day, or an hour, or a minute, when we cannot be together."

"Ah, do you feel that, too?" whispered Myra.

"Too?" cried Jim Airth. "Do _you_--Myra! Come back!"

But Lady Ingleby fled u