t Mallard has instructed her to say?
Their one object now is to get me at a distance from you. You see how
your aunt has changed--in appearance; her policy is to make me think
that she will be my friend when I am away. I can speak with certainty
after observing her for so long; in reality she is as firm against me
as ever. Don't you notice, too, something strange in Miriam's
behaviour?"

"She is not like herself."

"As unlike as could be. Mallard has influenced her strongly. Who knows
what he told her?"

"Of you?

"Perhaps of himself."

"Dear, he could not speak to her in that way!"

"A man in love--and in love with Cecily Doran--can do anything. The
Spences are his close friends; they too have been working on Miriam."

"But why, why do you return to this? We have spoken of the worst they
can do. To fear anything from their' persuasions is to distrust me."

"Cecily, I don't distrust you, but I can't live away from you. I might
have gone straight from Naples, but I can't go now; every hour with you
has helped to make it impossible. In talking to your aunt and to
Miriam, I have been consciously false. Come further this way, into the
shadow. Who is over there?"

"Some one we don't know."

Her voice had sunk to a whisper. Elgar led her by the hand into a
further recess of the garden; the hand was almost crushed between his
own as he continued:

"You must come with me, Cecily. We will go away together, and be
married at once."

She panted rather than breathed.

"You must! I can't leave you! I had rather throw myself from these
Capri rocks than go away with more than two years of solitude before
me."

Cecily made no answer.

"If you think, you will see this is best in every way. It will be
kindest to poor Mallard, putting an end at once to any hopes he may
have."

"We can't be married without his consent," Cecily whispered.

"Oh yes; I can manage that. I have already thought of everything. Be up
early to-morrow morning, and leave the hotel at half-past seven, as if
you were going for a walk. Neither your aunt nor Miriam will be
stirring by then. Go down the road as far as beyond the next turning,
and I will be there with a carriage. At the Marina I will have a boat
ready to take us over to Sorrento; we will drive to Castellamare, and
there take train direct for Caserta and onwards, so missing Naples
altogether. You shall travel as my sister. We will go to London, and be
married there. Of course you ca