as he made his way through the big rooms towards the door, b

rture him now with greater skill amidst these her possessions; her volume of Chopin on the rack, bound in red leather and stamped with her initials, which compelled his glance as

p of the steps, that the very day had changed. The wind had fallen; the sun, well on his course towards the rim of western hills, poured the golden light of autumn over field an

taken to the stables. And rather than ring the bell and wait in the mood in which he fou

the house, descended a flight o

figure, and this her face on which he watched the colour rise (so he remembered afterwards) like the slow flood of day? Were there so many Victorias, that a new one-and a strange one-should confront him at every meeting? And, eve

?" she said; "I did not

e stable, to get my hor

e asked quickly; "I h

with an excuse for being at Fairview. And yet h

"And, by the way, Mr. Vane believes that you had a share in the fruit and flowers which Mr. Flint so

and tore a leaf

said; "the path divides a little farther on

them to walk abreast, his eyes caressing the stray hairs that clustered about her neck and c

my gratitude as I should have done the evening y

rise again, but

t it, Mr. Vane. Of course I und

myself will forget that

Vane all my life, but I never=-never really knew him until that day. I have come to the conclusion," she added, in a lighter tone, "that the

y in the present. He could think of nothing but that she was h

lace," he asked, "wher

g of which he could not declare, save that she seemed vainly striving to fathom something in him

our father?" she said. "I

t too much to ask-perhaps you might come to see him, sometime

she answered. "I am go

male spirit which was so strong in him, and which moves not woman alone, but the world, was a

promised visit to

long?" he

e gets tired of me. And there," she added, "are the sta

ith its clock-tower and weather-vane, and its two wings, enclosing a paved court where a whistling stable-boy was

nger-a few minu

she turned her head. How wonderfully, he

n, you seemed in such a hurry to go, didn't you? You were w

ked Austen,

laug

ll stay awhile," said Victoria, "we might walk over to the dairy, where that model protege of yours, Eben Fitch, whom

up with her. She was alrea

t people if they d

said. "Fortunately, the trial has not yet arrived. Your

morning winds, littering the ground; and then by a gate into a dimpled, emerald pasture slope where the Guernseys were feeding along a water run. They spoke of

ung to it. Before, in those delicious moments with her, seemingly pilfered from the angry gods, the sense of intimacy had been deep; deep, because robbing the gods together, they had shared the feeling of guilt, had known that retribution would coma. And now the gods had locked their treas

the Blue into its vale of sapphire shadows, with its hillsides of the mystic fabric of the backgrounds of the masters of the Renaissance. For a while

; "but perhaps you have been here, perhaps I

ious, sunburned face. His eyes were still fixed, contemplative

rs by right of con

e look she had flashed upon him, surprised and puzzled him more and mo

vernor? she said present

came to that,

come to?" s

esit

e said slowly, "at the little cottage across from the Duncan house where-you were last winter." He paused,

ou ref

es

ld have been

t is probable. The con

rom what I know and have heard of you that you were made for positions of tr

ession b

ered deliberately. "It doesn't make an

ny difference!"

on in conditions, has gone out. A new and more desirable state of affairs has come. I am at liberty to say this much to you now," he added

she asked, in a low voice

he an

agree," she

ner of her asking it, but he felt that he must an

ed -vitally. On the other hand, it is just that you should know t

rew b

have proved it. I am glad-I am glad that you saw him." The quality of the sunlight changed, the very hil

that I saw him

t his glan

onesty of his opponents-I suppose because so many of them have been dishonest. And-I believe in my

Victoria sat motionless, but her eyes followed irresistibly the lines of power in the tall figure against the sky-the breadth of shoulder and slimness of hip and length of limb typical of the

we should be goin

med not to

you somethi

ends," sh

ng to marry

turned away. "Why

uive

cto

n her cheeks. Hope quickened at the vision of hope, the seats of judgment themselves were filled w

she a

ves those who knew him. His words Victoria remembered afterwards-all of them; but it was to the call of the voice she responded. His was the fibre which grows st

e times when I should have gone away if I hadn't made a promise to stay in Ripton. I ask you to marry me, because I-know that I shall love you as long as I live. I can give you this, at least, and I can promise to prote

nney's," and her voice caught in an exquisite note between laughter and tears. "I love you, do you understand, you! Oh, how c

r to him and kissed her face, that vied in colour with the coming glow in the western sky. Above the prying eyes of men, above the world itself, he held her, striving to realize som

ut a word I thought-you didn't care. How co

ed with humour

you cared, Vict

ame tho

"only I didn't know it. I think I

e you

Victoria, "when I learn

u will never do such a

" she added, after a mo

r your friend

he miracle in the sky their miracle. At times their eyes wandered to the mountain, whi

ictoria, "to take me up th

were going aw

she answered, "have compel

l go tomorro

ria, dreamily; "your land, where we

to thrill at the sound

him, "do you think you have money enoug

ghed j

e it a point to examine my bank-account t

the gray days best-when I am happy. And then," she added, regarding him critically, "although you are very near perfection, there are some things you ought to see and learn to make yo

th of us knowing the

l be-too happy," sh

py!" he

happiness and achievement go together. An

e answered, "I think I shoul