Drake bent down and held out his hand to help her up.

"You won't be long?" she asked, and she looked up at him shyly, for,
after their long separation, he seemed almost strange to her.

"Just as long as you like," he said, understanding the reason for her
question, and glancing at the window of Falconer's room. "Dick tells me
that he is better this morning. I couldn't say how glad I am, dearest
Nell," he whispered, as the mare sprang at the collar and they whirled
through the gates and down the road. "Is it you really who are sitting
beside me, or am I dreaming?"

Nell's hand stole nearer to his arm until it touched it softly.

"I have asked myself that all night, Drake," she said, almost inaudibly.
"It is so much more like a dream than a reality. Are we going through
the village?" she asked, suddenly and shyly.

"Yes," he said. "We are. Nell, I want to show my treasure to the good
folk who have known me since I was a boy. Perhaps the news has reached
the village by this time--for the servants at the Hall know it, and I
want them to see how happy you have made me!"

There could be no doubt of the news having got to the village, for as
the dogcart sped through it the people came to the doors of the shops
and cottages, all alive with curiosity and excitement.

Drake nodded to the curtseys and greetings, and looked so radiantly
happy that one woman, feeling that touch of nature which makes all men
kin, called out to them:

"God bless you, my lord, and send you both happiness!"

"That's worth having, Nell," he said, very quietly; but Nell didn't
speak, and the tears were in her eyes. "A few days ago I should have
laughed or sneered at that benediction," he said gravely. "What a change
has come over my life in a few short hours! There is no magic like that
of love, Nell."

They were silent for some time after they had left the village behind
them, but presently Drake began to call her attention to the various
points of interest in the view; the prosperous farms, and thickly wooded
preserves; and Nell began, half unconsciously, to realize the extent of
the vast estate--the one of many--of which the man she was going to
marry was lord and master.

"I'm going to take you to a farm which has been held by the same family
for several generations," he said. "I think you will like Styles and his
wife; and you won't mind if they are outspoken, dearest? I was here to
lunch only the other day, and Styles read me a lect