nted
to the novel proposition at some moment or other of that walk was
apparent by what occurred a little later.

III

An enterprise of such pith required, indeed, less talking than
consideration. The first thing they did in carrying it out was to
return to the railway station, where Baptista took from her luggage a
small trunk of immediate necessaries which she would in any case have
required after missing the boat. That same afternoon they travelled up
the line to Trufal.

Charles Stow (as his name was), despite his disdainful indifference
to things, was very careful of appearances, and made the journey
independently of her though in the same train. He told her where she
could get board and lodgings in the city; and with merely a distant
nod to her of a provisional kind, went off to his own quarters, and to
see about the licence.

On Sunday she saw him in the morning across the nave of the
pro-cathedral. In the afternoon they walked together in the fields,
where he told her that the licence would be ready next day, and would
be available the day after, when the ceremony could be performed as
early after eight o'clock as they should choose.

His courtship, thus renewed after an interval of two years, was
as impetuous, violent even, as it was short. The next day came and
passed, and the final arrangements were made. Their agreement was to
get the ceremony over as soon as they possibly could the next morning,
so as to go on to Pen-zephyr at once, and reach that place in time for
the boat's departure the same day. It was in obedience to Baptista's
earnest request that Stow consented thus to make the whole journey
to Lyonesse by land and water at one heat, and not break it at
Pen-zephyr; she seemed to be oppressed with a dread of lingering
anywhere, this great first act of disobedience to her parents once
accomplished, with the weight on her mind that her home had to be
convulsed by the disclosure of it. To face her difficulties over the
water immediately she had created them was, however, a course more
desired by Baptista than by her lover; though for once he gave way.

The next morning was bright and warm as those which had preceded it.
By six o'clock it seemed nearly noon, as is often the case in that
part of England in the summer season. By nine they were husband and
wife. They packed up and departed by the earliest train after the
service; and on the way discussed at length what she should say on
meeting