sudden wave of
feeling swept over him. He took Alice's quiet loving face in his hands
and kissed her passionately. 'Do not so much as think of me yet, or
doubt, or question: only love me, dearest. And soon--and soon--'

'We'll just begin again, just begin again, won't we? all three of us
together, just as we used to be. I didn't mean to have said all those
horrid things about mother. She was only dreadfully anxious and meant
everything for the best. You'll let me tell her soon?'

The haggard face turned slowly, listening. 'I hear, I understand, but
I can't think very clearly now, Alice; I can't, dear; my miserable old
tangled nerves. I just stumble along as best I can. You'll understand
better when you get to be a poor old thing like me. We must do the best
we can. And of course you'll see, Dillie, how awfully important it is
not to raise false hopes. You understand? I mustn't risk the least thing
in the world, must I? And now goodbye; only for a few hours now. And not
a word, not a word to a single living soul.'

He extinguished the candle again, and led the way to the top of the
stairs. 'Are you there, Ada?'

'Yes, sir,' answered the quiet imperturbable voice from under the black
straw brim. Alice went slowly down, but at the foot of the stairs,
looking out into the cold, blue, lamplit street she paused as if at a
sudden recollection, and ran hastily up again.

'There was nothing more, dear?' She said, leaning back to peer up.

'"Nothing more?" What?'

She stood panting a little in the darkness, listening to some cautious
yet uneasy thought that seemed to haunt her mind. 'I thought--it seemed
there was something we had not said, something I could not understand.
But there, it is nothing! You know what a fanciful old silly I am. You
do love me? Quite as much as ever?'

'More, sweetheart, more!'

'Good-night again, then; and God bless you, dear.'

The outer door closed softly, the footsteps died away. Lawford still
hesitated. He took hold of the stairs above his head as he stood on
the landing and leaned his head upon his hands, striving calmly to
disentangle the perplexity of his thoughts. His pulses were beating in
his ear with a low muffled roar. He looked down between the blinds to
where against the blue of the road beneath the straggling yellow beams
of the lamp stood the little cart and drooping, shaggy pony, and Grisel
sitting quietly there awaiting him. He shut his eyes as if in hope by
some convuls