He rose and went towards the horses. His own raised its head and seemed

inclined to start, but stood uncertain and eventually remained quiet

beside the chestnut. Stafford brought them to where Ida still stood,

her eyes downcast, her face pale.

With his own bridle over his arm he put her into the saddle, resisting

even in that supreme moment the almost irresistible desire to take her

in his arms.

She murmured a "Thank you," as she slowly put on her left gauntlet. He

drew the other from her, and as she looked at him questioningly, he put

it to his lips and thrust it under his waistcoat, over his heart.

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The colour flooded her face, but the blush was followed by the old look

of trouble and doubt. She held out her ungloved right hand and he took

it and held it for a moment, then raised it to his lips; but he did not

kiss it.

"No!" he said, with stern repression. "I will take nothing--until you

give it me."

She inclined her head the very slightest, as if she understood, as if

she were grateful; then letting her eyes rest on his with an

inscrutable look, she spoke softly to the horse and rode away, with

Donald and Bess clamouring joyously after her, as if they had found the

proceedings extremely trying.

Stafford flung his arm across his horse, and leaning against it, looked

after her, his eyes fixed wistfully on the slight, graceful figure,

until it was out of sight; then he gazed round him as if he were

suddenly returning from a new, mysterious region to the old familiar

world. Passion's marvellous spell still held him, he was still

throbbing with a half-painful ecstasy of her nearness, of the touch of

her hand, the magic of her voice.

For the first time he was in love. In love with the most exquisite, the

most wonderful of God's divine creatures. He knew, as he had said, that

her answer meant life or death to him, the life of infinite, nameless

joy, the death of life in death.

Was he going to lose her?

The very question set him trembling. He held out his quivering hand and

looked at it, and set his teeth. Heaven and earth, how strange it was!

This girl had taken possession of him body and soul; every fibre of his

being clamoured for her. To be near her, just to be able to see her,

hear her, meant happiness; to be torn from her-The sweat broke out on his forehead and he laughed grimly.

"And this is love!" he said, between his teeth. "Yes--and it's the

only love of my life. God help me if you say 'no,' dearest! But you

must not--you must not!"




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