civilities due to her. I am not obliged to fall in love with every young
lady in whose father's house I am visiting. But I admired you the first
moment I saw you; and now, at this moment, I vow that I love you as I
never loved in my life before.'

They stood face to face, looking at each other. Gladys' eyes drooped
before the gaze of the colonel.

'This to me!' she exclaimed, 'and yet you say you do not insult me! Let
me go, sir, I insist!'

She tried to hasten on, but the strong hand was again on her arm.

'I do not insult you, Gladys, I honour and respect you. If you will
only say you love me, I will--yes, I will--I think, at least--I will
marry you privately, and take you abroad at once. I vow this is more
than I ever said to any woman in my life before.'

'And you will repent having said it to me before the night is out,
Colonel Vaughan, and you do not mean it. Think of who I am; think of
Miss Gwynne; think of yourself. Oh! this is cruel, cruel jesting to
all!'

'I was never more serious in my life.'

As Colonel Vaughan said this, he saw nothing, thought of nothing, but
the peculiar beauty of the creature who stood, flushed and agitated, at
his side. He forgot himself and his purposes, in his temporary blind
admiration.

'Now, Gladys, I await your answer,' he said, not doubting what that
answer would be.

'I have no answer to give, sir, because I know that, even if you now
think yourself in earnest, you will be no longer so to-night.'

'Before we leave this wood, girl, I will and must have an answer, and
beware how you irritate me.'

He seized her hand as he spoke, and held it tight.

'You will release me before I answer you, sir; I have gone through too
many dangers and temptations to be frightened into speech.'

He released her hand, but kept his eyes fixed on her face. She did not
quail, though she felt her heart beat violently.

'If you are serious, sir, I ought, I suppose, to be grateful for so
strange an honour; but I do not believe you are so, and my answer is,
that a servant such as I, can have nothing to say to a gentleman such as
you.'

'A servant! You will be no longer a servant. You are not one at this
moment.'

Again he seized her hand. She was frightened, but did not loose her
self-command.

'Sir, you had now better let me return home. Miss Gwynne will wonder
what has become of me. It is time that she should be ready--that you,
sir, should be ready. What will she think and say?