when he was with her, he
confirmed this resolution by an oath he swore to himself: and even that
he was not certain would be a sure protection against the witchery she
wielded.

So it was with a mind doubtful and troubled more than it had ever been
since the beginning of these things that he came to the border where the
sweet-peas grew, and saw a dark shadow already close by them.

But when he came a little nearer he saw that it was not Ella who was
there but Deede Dawson and his first thought was that she had betrayed
him.

"That you, Dunn?" Deede Dawson hailed him in his usual pleasant,
friendly manner.

"Yes," Dunn answered warily, keeping himself ready for any eventuality.

Deede Dawson took a cigar from his pocket and lighted it and offered one
to Dunn, who refused it abruptly.

Deede Dawson laughed at that in his peculiar, mirthless way.

"Am I being the third that's proverbially no company?" he asked. "Were
you expecting to find some one else here? I thought I saw a white frock
vanish just as I came up."

Dunn made no answer, and Deede Dawson continued after a pause

"That's why I waited. You are being just a little bit rapid in this
affair, aren't you?"

"I don't know why. You said something, didn't you?" muttered Dunn,
beginning to think that, after all, Deede Dawson's presence here was due
to accident--or rather to his unceasing and unfailing watchfulness, and
not to any treachery of Ella's.

"Yes, I did, didn't I?" he agreed pleasantly. "But you are a working
gardener taken on out of charity to give you a chance and keep you
out of gaol, and you are looking a little high when you think of your
master's ward and daughter, aren't you?"

"There was a time when I shouldn't have thought so," answered Dunn.

"We're talking of the present, my good man," Deede Dawson said
impatiently. "If you want the girl you must win her. It can be done, but
it won't be easy."

"Tell me how," said Dunn.

"Oh, that's going too fast and too far," answered the other with his
mirthless laugh. "Now, there's Mr. John Clive--what about him?"

"I'll answer for him," replied Dunn slowly and thickly. "I've put better
men than John Clive out of my way before today."

"That's the way to talk," cried Deede Dawson. "Dunn, dare you play a big
game for big stakes?"

"Try me," said Dunn.

"If I showed you," Deede Dawson's voice sank to a whisper, "if I showed
you a pretty girl for a wife--a fortune to win--what would you sa