t an ordinary man,
crossing your path for the first and perhaps the only time. Good
heavens! there was no reason why you should give a thought to me, why I
should linger in your mind for half a moment after I was out of your
sight. But for me--Haven't I told you how beautiful you are, Ida! You
are the loveliest, the sweetest.--But, even if you had not been--I mean
it is not because you are so beautiful that I love you--" She looked at
him with a puzzled, troubled look.

"No! I can't explain. See, now, there's not a look of yours, not a
feature that I don't know by heart as if I'd learnt it. When I am away
from you I can see you--see the way your hair clusters in soft little
curls at your forehead, the long lashes sweeping your cheek, the--the
trick your eyes have of turning from grey to violet--oh, I know your
face by heart, and I _love_ it for its beauty; but if you were to lose
it all, if you were not the loveliest creature God had ever made, it
would make no difference. You would still be _you_: and it is you I
want. Ida--give yourself to me--trust me! Oh, dearest, you don't know
what love is! Let me teach you!"

Once again he got hold of her hand; and she let it remain in his grasp;
but her quiescence did not mean yielding, and he knew it.

"No," she said, with a deep breath. "It is true that I do not know. And
I am--afraid." A wan little smile that was more piteous than tears
curved her lips: for "afraid" seemed strange coming from her, the
fearless child of the hills and dales. "If--if I said 'yes'--Ah, but I
do not!" she broke off as he made to draw her to him, and she shrank
back. "I do not! I said 'if,' it would not be true; it would not be
fair. For I do not know. I might be--sorry, after--after you had gone.
And it would be too late then."

"You're right," he assented, grimly. "Once I got you, no power on earth
should make me let you go again."

Her lips quivered and her eyes drooped before his. How strange a thing
this love was, that it should change a man so!

"I don't want to force you to answer," he said, after a pause. "Yes, I
do! I'd give half the remainder of my life to hear you say the one
word, 'yes.' But I won't. It's too--too precious. Ah, don't you
understand! I want your love, your love, Ida!"

"Yes, I understand," she murmured. "And--and I would say it if--if I
were sure. But I--yes, I am all confused. It is like a dream. I want to
think, to ask myself if--if I can do what you want."