elf beside him. Then he at once leapt down among the
brushwood, a descent of some three feet.

'We shall be trespassing,' said Nancy.

'What do I care? Now, jump!'

'As if you could catch me!' Again she uttered her nervous laugh. 'I am
heavy.'

'Obey! Jump!' he cried impatiently, his eyes afire.

She knelt, seated herself, dropped forward. Tarrant caught her in his
arms.

'You heavy! a feather weight! Why, I can carry you; I could run with
you.'

And he did carry her through the brushwood, away into the shadow of the
trees.

At dinner-time, Mrs. Morgan and her daughter were alone. They agreed to
wait a quarter of an hour, and sat silent, pretending each to be engaged
with a book. At length their eyes met.

'What does it mean, Jessica?' asked the mother timidly.

'I'm sure I don't know. It doesn't concern us. She didn't mean to be
back, by what she said.'

'But--isn't it rather--?'

'Oh, Nancy is all right. I suppose she'll have something to tell you,
to-night or to-morrow. We must have dinner; I'm hungry.'

'So am I, dear.--Oh, I'm quite afraid to think of the appetites we're
taking back. Poor Milly will be terrified.'

Eight o'clock, nine o'clock. The two conversed in subdued voices; Mrs.
Morgan was anxious, all but distressed. Half-past nine. 'What _can_ it
mean, Jessica? I can't help feeling a responsibility. After all,
Nancy is quite a young girl; and I've sometimes thought she might be
steadier.'

'Hush! That was a knock.'

They waited. In a minute or two the door was opened a few inches, and a
voice called 'Jessica!'

She responded. Nancy was standing in the gloom.

'Come into my room,' she said curtly.

Arrived there, she did not strike a light. She closed the door, and took
hold of her friend's arm.

'We can't go back the day after to-morrow, Jessica. We must wait a day
longer, till the afternoon of Friday.'

'Why? What's the matter, Nancy?'

'Nothing serious. Don't be frightened, I'm tired, and I shall go to
bed.'

'But why must we wait?'

'Listen: will you promise me faithfully--as friend to friend, faith
fully--not to tell the reason even to your mother?'

'I will, faithfully.'

'Then, it's this. On Friday morning I shall be married to Mr Tarrant.'

'Gracious!'

'I may tell you more, before then; but perhaps not. We shall be married
by licence, and it needs one day between getting the licence and the
marriage. You may tell your mother, if you like, that I want to stay