ently, and even timidly, but his firm hand
held her languid one with something of a more nervous clasp, "if you
would only tell me, Gerty, that on such and such a day you would leave
the stage altogether, and on such and such a day you would let me come
to London--and you know the rest--then I would go to my mother, and
there would be no need of any more secrecy, and instead of her treating
you merely as a guest she would look on you as her daughter, and you
might talk with her frankly."

She did not at all withdraw the small gloved hand, with its fringe of
fur at the end of the narrow sleeve. On the contrary, as it lay there in
his warm grasp, it was like the small, white, furred foot of a
ptarmigan, so little and soft and gentle was it.

"Well, you know, Keith," she said, with a great kindness in the clear
eyes, though they were cast down, "I think the secret between you and me
should be known to nobody at all but ourselves--any more than we can
reasonably help. And it is a very great step to take; and you must not
expect me to be in a hurry, for no good ever came of that. I did not
think you would have cared so much--I mean, a man has so many
distractions and occupations of shooting, and going away in your yacht
and all that--I fancy--I am a little surprised--that you make so much
of it. We have a great deal to learn yet, Keith; we don't know each
other very well. By and by we may be quite sure that there is no danger;
that we understand each other; that nothing and nobody is likely to
interfere. But wouldn't you prefer to be left in the meantime just a
little bit free--not quite pledged, you know, to such a serious thing--"

He had been listening to these faltering phrases in a kind of dazed and
pained stupor. It was like the water overwhelming a drowning man. But
at last he cried out--and he grasped both her hands in the sudden
vehemence of the moment--

"Gerty, you are not drawing back! You do not despair of our being
husband and wife! What is it that you mean?"

"Oh, Keith!" said she, quickly withdrawing one of her hands, "you
frighten me when you talk like that! You do not know what you are
doing--you have hurt my wrist!"

"Oh, I hope not!" said he. "Have I hurt your hand, Gerty?--and I would
cut off one of mine to save you a scratch! But you will tell me now that
you have no fears--that you don't want to draw back! I would like to
take you back to Dare, and be able to say to every one, 'Do you know
that