rriage," she added, with a look in her eyes that was like a
wistful smile, "is a very serious thing, and if you believe that I
should be rejoicing in a year hence over my escape from you, as you
call it, then you must believe that I have no business to be here."

This was a cool piece of logic that was hardly to my taste.

"Tell me," said I, fondling her hand, "how you managed last night?"

"I do not like to think of it," she answered. "I was obliged to
undress, for it is mam'selle's rule to look into all the bedrooms the
last thing after locking the house up. It was then ten o'clock. I
waited until I heard the convent clock strike twelve, by which time I
supposed everybody would be sound asleep. Then I lighted a candle and
dressed myself, but I had to use my hands as softly as a spider spins
its web, and my heart seemed to beat so loud that I was afraid the
girls in the next room would hear it. I put a box of matches in my
pocket, and crept along the corridors to the big salle-a-manger. The
door of my bedroom creaked when I opened it, and I felt as if I must
sink to the ground with fright. The salle-a-manger is a great, gloomy
room even in day-time; it was dreadfully dark, horribly black, Herbert,
and the sight of the stars shining through the window over the balcony
made me feel so lonely that I could have cried. There was a mouse
scratching in the room somewhere, and I got upon a chair, scarcely
caring whether I made a noise or not, so frightened was I, for I hate
mice. Indeed, if that mouse had not kept quiet after a while, I
believe I should not be here now. I could not endure being alone in a
great, dark room at that fearful hour of the night with a mouse running
about near me. Oh, Herbert, how glad I was when I saw your lantern
flash."

"My brave little heart!" cried I, snatching up her hand and kissing it.
"But the worst part is over. There are no ladders, no great black
rooms now before us, no mice even."

She slightly coloured without smiling, and I noticed an anxious
expression in the young eyes she held steadfastly bent upon the table.

"What thought is troubling you, Grace?"

"Herbert, I fear you will not love me the better for consenting to run
away with you."

"Is that your only fear?"

She shook her head, and said, whilst she continued to keep her eyes
downcast: "Suppose Aunt Amelia refuses to sanction our marriage?"

"She will not--she dare not!" I cried vehemently; "imprudent as