d that he would do it. He
hardly knew why it was that he wanted her. He had not determined that
he was desirous of the charms or comfort of domestic life. He had
not even thought where he would live were he married. He had not
suggested to himself that Lucinda was a desirable companion, that her
temper would suit his, that her ways and his were sympathetic, or
that she would be a good mother to the future Sir Griffin Trewett.
He had seen that she was a very handsome girl, and therefore he had
thought that he would like to possess her. Had she fallen like a ripe
plum into his mouth, or shown herself ready so to fall, he would
probably have closed his lips and backed out of the affair. But the
difficulty no doubt added something to the desire. "I had hoped," he
said, "that after knowing each other so long there might have been
more than that."

She was again driven to speak because he paused. "I don't know that
that makes much difference."

"Miss Roanoke, you can't but understand what I mean."

"I'm sure I don't," said she.

"Then I'll speak plainer."

"Not now, Sir Griffin, because I'm so wet."

"You can listen to me even if you will not answer me. I am sure that
you know that I love you better than all the world. Will you be
mine?" Then he moved on a little forward so that he might look back
into her face. "Will you allow me to think of you as my future wife?"

Miss Roanoke was able to ride at a stone wall or at a river, and to
ride at either the second time when her horse balked the first. Her
heart was big enough for that. But her heart was not big enough to
enable her to give Sir Griffin an answer. Perhaps it was that, in
regard to the river and the stone wall, she knew what she wanted; but
that, as to Sir Griffin, she did not. "I don't think this is a proper
time to ask," she said.

"Why not?"

"Because I am wet through and cold. It is taking an unfair
advantage."

"I didn't mean to take any unfair advantage," said Sir Griffin
scowling--"I thought we were alone--"

"Oh, Sir Griffin, I am so tired!" As they were now entering
Kilmarnock, it was quite clear he could press her no further. They
clattered up, therefore, to the hotel, and he busied himself in
getting a bedroom fire lighted, and in obtaining the services of the
landlady. A cup of tea was ordered, and toast, and in two minutes
Lucinda Roanoke was relieved from the presence of the baronet. "It's
a kind of thing a fellow doesn't quite understan