in his heart.

If his love meant so much to her--then it should be hers--if indeed love
could be bestowed at will. In any case he would marry her and devote his
life to making her happy; and in his curiously exalted state of mind
Owen quite lost sight of the fact that when one is the lover and the
other the beloved, between the two there is often a great gulf fixed.

* * * * *

When at last Owen roused the girl, who had sobbed herself into
quiescence in his arms, the room was nearly dark.

"Come, Toni, it's getting cold and dark in here. What do you say, shall
we get Mrs. Blades to give us a little dinner and go home by
moonlight--or would you rather start at once?"

"I would rather go now." She spoke in a low voice, like a child that is
uncertain of its treatment; and Owen guessed she was ashamed of her
tears.

He set himself to reassure her.

"Well, just as you like. Wait a moment, though. I'll light a candle, and
you shall put your hat straight, and tie on that precious veil of yours
first."

While she tidied herself, rather self-consciously, before a large oval
mirror, Owen gathered up the papers she had typewritten; and when he
turned towards her at last she was able to conjure up a rather wan
little smile.

"Good girl!" He laid his hand kindly on her arm. "Now we'll be off--but
first, do you mind if I let old Blades into our secret? She's a faithful
old soul, though her temper's a bit crabby, and she'll be awfully
pleased!"

She assented, of course; and opening the door Owen led her across the
dim hall towards the kitchen regions.

Evidently the magic hour of lighting-up was at hand, for when they had
passed through the green baize door which shut off the servants'
premises, they found themselves in a brightly-lit passage, at the end of
which Mrs. Blades' voice could be heard energetically exhorting a maid
to "be quick and take these lamps."

"Come along, we'll pay her a visit in her room," said Owen, his eyes
sparkling with fun; and drawing Toni's arm through his he ran with her
down the passage, and drew up finally in a large square room where Mrs.
Blades was at work.

In spite of her shyness Toni was lost in wonder at the nature of that
work. The room itself was lighted with gas, flaring in an iron cage; but
on the table in front of Mrs. Blades were no less than ten small
oil-lamps, evidently intended to hang against the wall, and fashioned in
some wrought metal