y Jove! You deserve your luck, every bit of it. Say,
that's fine. Ha! ha! Jeerupiter! Smith, you are a good one and a sly
one. Shake again, old man. Say, by Jove! What a sell--I mean what a
joke! Look here, Smith, old chap, would you mind taking Pepper home?
I am rather tired--riding, I mean--beastly wild cows--no end of a run
after them. See you down at the house later. No, no, don't wait, don't
mind me. I am all right, fit as a fiddle--no, not a bit tired--I mean I
am tired riding. Yes, rather stiff--about the knees, you know. Oh, it's
all right. Up you get, old man--there you are! So, Smith, you are going
to be married, eh? Lucky dog! Tell 'em I am--tell 'em we are coming. My
horse? Oh, well, never mind my horse till I come myself. So long, old
chap! Ha! ha! old man, good-by. Great Caesar! What a sell! Say, let's
sit down, Moira," he said, suddenly growing quiet and turning to the
girl, "till I get my wind. Fine chap that Smith. Legs a bit wobbly, but
don't care if he had a hundred of 'em and all wobbly. He's all right.
Oh, my soul! What an ass! What an adjectival, hyphenated jackass! Don't
look at me that way or I shall climb a tree and yell. I'm not mad, I
assure you. I was on the verge of it a few moments ago, but it is gone.
I am sane, sane as an old maid. Oh, my God!" He covered his face with
his hands and sat utterly still for some moments.

"Dr. Martin, what is the matter?" exclaimed the girl. "You terrify me."

"No wonder. I terrify myself. How could I have stood it."

"What is the matter? What is it?"

"Why, Moira, I thought you were going to marry that idiot."

"Idiot?" exclaimed the girl, drawing herself up. "Idiot? Mr. Smith? I am
not going to marry him, Dr. Martin, but he is an honorable fellow and a
friend of mine, a dear friend of mine."

"So he is, so he is, a splendid fellow, the finest ever, but thank God
you are not going to marry him!"

"Why, what is wrong with--"

"Why? Why? God help me! Why? Only because, Moira, I love you." He threw
himself upon his knees beside her. "Don't, don't for God's sake get
away! Give me a chance to speak!" He caught her hand in both of his. "I
have just been through hell. Don't send me there again. Let me tell you.
Ever since that minute when I saw you in the glen I have loved you. In
my thoughts by day and in my dreams by night you have been, and this day
when I thought I had lost you I knew that I loved you ten thousand times
more than ever." He was kissing