minds of all who beheld her. Duprez for
once understood what it was to reverence a woman's beauty, and decided
that the flippant language of compliment was out of place--he therefore
said nothing, and Lorrimer, too, was silent battling bravely against the
wild desires that were now, in his opinion, nothing but disloyalty to
his friend. Old Gueldmar's hearty voice roused and startled them all.

"Now Thelma, child! If thou art a queen, give orders to these lads to be
moving! 'Tis a damp place to hold a court in, and thy throne must needs
be a cold one. Let us out to the blessed sunshine again--maybe we can
climb one of yon wild rocks and get a view worth seeing."

"All right, sir!" said Lorimer, chivalrously resolving that now
Errington should have a chance. "Come on, Mac! _Allons,
marchons_,--Pierre! Mr. Gueldmar exacts our obedience! Phil, you take
care of the queen!"

And skillfully pushing on Duprez and Macfarlane before him, he followed
Gueldmar, who preceded them all,--thus leaving his friend in a momentary
comparative solitude with Thelma. The girl was a little startled as she
saw them thus taking their departure, and sprang up from her stalactite
throne in haste. Sir Philip had laid aside his torch in order to assist
her with both hands to descend the sloping rocks; but her embarrassment
at being left almost alone with him made her nervous and uncertain of
foot,--she was hurried and agitated and anxious to overtake the others,
and in trying to walk quickly she slipped and nearly fell. In one second
she was caught in his arms and clasped passionately to his heart.

"Thelma! Thelma!" he whispered, "I love you, my darling--I love you!"

She trembled in his strong embrace, and strove to release herself, but
he pressed her more closely to him, scarcely knowing that he did so, but
feeling that he held the world, life, time, happiness, and salvation in
this one fair creature. His brain was in a wild whirl--the glitter of
the stalactite cave turned to a gyrating wheel of jewel-work, there was
nothing any more--no universe, no existence--nothing but love, love,
love, beating strong hammer-strokes through every fibre of his frame. He
glanced up, and saw that the slowly retreating forms of his friends had
nearly reached the outer opening of the cavern. Once there, they would
look back and--

"Quick, Thelma!" and his warm breath touched her cheek. "My darling! my
love! if you are not angry,--kiss me! I shall understand.