Now," said the Comtesse, "if you begin to lecture me, to preach sermons
to me, I shall sit down and cry. I could scream and kick at this moment
with the greatest ease and pleasure. Then what would you do, my nephew?"

"Maurice," said Una, "let us go home across the fields. Don't let us go
by the road. I'm afraid of meeting those men again. They will be coming
after us."

"Nonsense, Una," said the Comtesse, "we have climbed walls enough
to-night; we have lain in ditches enough. For my part, if there is a
road I shall go along it. Come, Maurice."

She walked quickly on, and Maurice, puzzled and uncomfortable, followed
her. Then Neal laid his hand on Una's arm.

"This way," he said. "I will take you home by the fields."

He sprang across the ditch and stretched out his hand to the girl.
Without a word she took it and followed him. They walked in silence over
the rough ground. They crossed a wall, and then another, and each time
Neal thrilled at the touch of her hand as he turned to help her.

"You were very brave, Neal," she said.

"It's not much to be brave for you, Una. Oh, I wish I could have saved
you."

He had her hand in his again, and this time it seemed as if it lingered
in his clasp.

"Una," he said. "Una."

But her face was turned away from him, and she made no answer. The tone
of his voice set her pulses beating with a strong excitement, so that
she could not look at him or speak. He was silent again. They reached
the high wall which bounded the demesne of Dunseveric House. Once more,
as they climbed, her hand was in his.

This time he held it fast. It seemed to him that he was doing something
that would call down on him swift rebuke and angry reproach. He expected
to have the hand snatched from him. Then, with wonder and a glow of
rapturous delight, he felt it lie passive in his. He realised that he
was being swept beyond his self-control; that his desire for the girl
beside him was stronger than his reason. He yielded to an impulse of
sheer passion, clasped Una in his arms, and kissed her face. Again and
again he kissed her. He felt her arms tighten round him, knew that she
was clinging to him. Then suddenly he let her go and stood back from
her, terror-stricken.

"Oh, Una, what have I done? I am mad."

She stood before him, her face covered with her hands.

"Una, speak to me. Can you ever forgive me? My love made me mad."

She raised her face and looked at him. In the dim moonlight he saw in