all about you, and is waiting to see the reward of your work. You must
let me know when the success comes. I shall always be waiting; and
remember, this talk is going to do me good too! I have _made_ troubles
for myself because I did not know how well off I was, but now that I
have come so close to the real thing I shall be ashamed to grizzle over
trifles. It _is_ settled, isn't it? You are going on fighting?"

There was a long silence. She could feel rather than see the struggle
in the man's face, but the pressure tightened on her hand, foretelling
that the decision would be what she wished.

"Yes," he said slowly at last. "I promise! An hour ago it seemed as if
there was not a soul in the world who cared whether I lived or died, but
as you say you came to me--in the darkness! You think you were sent.
My old mother would have thought the same. I don't know, I can't tell,
but it may be so, and that gives me courage to try again."

He paused for a moment or two, then suddenly--

"What is your name?" he asked.

"Betty!"

"Betty!" His voice lingered over the pretty, girlish name. "Thank you,
Betty!"

"And yours?"

"Ralph."

"Thank you, Ralph! You have given me something real to think of in
life--something to look forward to."

"Ah!" He drew a long, stabbing breath. "But at the best it will be a
long waiting. You will be far from eighteen--`nearly eighteen'--before
I can hope for success. The years will seem very long."

"But they will pass!" cried Betty. "I can wait!"

She was in a state of exaltation when no trial of patience seemed too
great to face, and difficulties presented themselves only as glorious
opportunities; but the man, who had experienced the heat and burden of
the day, sighed, and was silent.

By this time they had made their way past the great houses standing back
from the road, and were close on the Lancaster Gate Station of the
Central London Railway. A faint light streamed into the gloom from the
glass fanlight, and for the first time Betty began to feel that she trod
on familiar ground.

"Ah, here we are; if we go round this corner I shall be home in five
minutes. Perhaps we shall arrive before the others, after all. You
have brought me so quickly that there is no time for them to have been
anxious, unless Miles went in alone."

The stranger did not answer. They turned round the corner of Stanhope
Terrace and walked along for twenty or thirty yards, then suddenl