of it, I'll have her. Youll not breathe that," he added,
turning in apprehension, stopping opposite Gilian and putting his hand
on his coat lapel. "I am wrong to mention it at all even to you, but I
must out with what I feel to somebody. The thing is dirling in my
blood. Listen, do you hear that?" He threw out his chest again, held
his breath, and Gilian could almost swear he heard his heart throb with
feeling.

"Does she want you? That's the question, I suppose," said Gilian weakly.

"That is not the question at all, it's do I want her? There must be a
beginning somewhere. Look at me; I'm strong, young, not very ugly (at
least they tell me), I'm the grandson of Long Islay, who had a name for
gallantry; the girl has no lover--Has she?" he asked eagerly, suddenly
dropping his confidence.

"Not that I'm aware of," said Gilian.

"Well, there you are! What more is to be said? In these things one has
but to wish and win--at least that's been my training and my conviction.
Here she's lonely--I could see it in her; the company of her father is
not likely to be long for her, and her Uncle Jamie is not what you would
call a cheerful spark. Upon my soul, I believe I could get her if I was
a hunchback.... Mind, I'm not lightlying the lady; I could not do that
in this mood, but I'm fair taken with her; she beats all ever I saw. You
know the feeling? No, you don't; you're too throng at book notions. God!
God! God! I'm all ashake!"

He looked at Gilian, trying in the dark to make out how he was taking
this, to make sure he was not laughing at him. Gilian, on the contrary,
was feeling very solemn. He felt that this was a dangerously effective
mood for a lover, and he knew the lad before him would always bring
it to actual wooing if it got that length. He had no answer, and Young
Islay again believed him the abstracted dreamer.

"I have this advantage," he went on, unable to resist. "She likes
soldiers; she said as much; it was in her mother and in her; she likes
action, she likes spirit. She has them herself in faith! she almost
boxed my ears when--when--but I could swear she was rather tickled at my
impudence."

"Your impudence!" repeated Gilian, "were you in that mood?"

"Oh, well, you know--I had the boldness to----

"To what?" said Gilian; apprehending some disaster.

"Just a trifle," said Young Islay, shrewdly affecting indifference. "A
soldier's compliment; we are too ready with them in barrack-yards, you
know." And