word in such a matter. But it isn't
so with a man. It will make me very unhappy if my mother cannot be
friends with my wife; but no threats of hers to that effect would
prevent me from marrying, nor should they have any effect upon you.
I'm my own master, and from the nature of things I must look out for
myself."

This was all very grand and masterful on Rowan's part, and might in
theory be true; but there was that in it which made Rachel uneasy,
and gave to her love its first shade of trouble. She could not be
quite happy as Luke's promised bride, if she knew that she would not
be welcomed to that place by Luke's mother. And then what right had
she to think it probable that Luke's mother would give her such a
welcome? At that first meeting, however, she said but little herself
on the subject. She had pledged to him her troth, and she would not
attempt to go back from her pledge at the first appearance of a
difficulty. She would talk to her own mother, and perhaps his mother
might relent. But throughout it all there ran a feeling of dismay at
the idea of marrying a man whose mother would not willingly receive
her as a daughter!

"But you must go," said she at last. "Indeed you must. I have things
to do, if you have nothing."

"I'm the idlest man in the world at the present moment. If you turn
me out I can only go and sit at the inn."

"Then you must go and sit at the inn. If you stay any longer mamma
won't have any dinner."

"If that's so, of course I'll go. But I shall come back to tea."

As Rachel gave no positive refusal to this proposition, Rowan took
his departure on the understanding that he might return.

"Good-bye," said he. "When I come this evening I shall expect you to
walk with me."

"Oh, I don't know," said she.

"Yes, you will; and we will see the sun set again, and you will not
run from me this evening as though I were an ogre." As he spoke he
took her in his arms and held her, and kissed her before she had
time to escape from him. "You're mine altogether now," said he, "and
nothing can sever us. God bless you, Rachel!"

"Good-bye, Luke," and then they parted.

She had told him to go, alleging her household duties as her ground
for dismissing him; but when he was gone she did not at once betake
herself to her work. She sat on the seat which he had shared with
her, thinking of the thing which she had done. She was now betrothed
to this man as his wife, the only man towards whom her fancy had