‘Oh, if that assurance will make your task easier, my poor Nell, let me give it you,’ cried Ilfracombe; ‘and indeed I am sure it is better in any case, since everything between us two is over, that we should understand each other perfectly on that point. I _do_ love my wife with all my heart, and I hope--nay, I believe she loves me almost as well. You could hardly suppose that I should have married her else--under the circumstances. She had no money, no particular birth, and no particular good looks. What should I have married her for, except for love? But she took me completely by storm the first time I met her, and I have been at her feet ever since. So you need have no scruples on that score. And I believe, Nell--indeed, I feel sure that if you were married, and especially to a gentleman, Nora would prove a true friend to you. She is a warm-hearted girl without any affectation about her, and I told her the history of our acquaintance, and she was genuinely sorry for your fate. You need fear nothing from Nora. She will be as glad to hear you are happily married as I shall be.’ ‘That is enough,’ said Nell, in a low voice, ‘that settles the matter my lord, but I thought I should like to hear you say so with your own lips first. The next thing you will hear of will be my marriage.’ ‘But when is it to be Nell, and what is the happy man’s name?’ asked the earl in quite a new voice, it was so merry, and buoyant, and relieved. ‘Oh, you will know all that in good time,’ replied the girl, trying to imitate his cheerfulness; ‘it is not quite a settled thing yet, but it will be soon now.’ ‘And you will not refuse to take a wedding present from me, Nell, for the old times’ sake, will you?’ said Ilfracombe, insinuatingly; ‘perhaps it may be Panty-cuckoo Farm, who knows? If Sir Archibald consents to part with it, and then you will be your father’s landlord. Wouldn’t that be funny? How surprised the old people would be when you showed them the title-deeds. And you will let me have the very first intimation of the event, won’t you?’ ‘I will, my lord,’ said Nell, in a dull, constrained tone. ‘No, no, Nelly, not that. I was only obliged to caution you just now, because the servants are so beastly curious in this house. But we are quite alone, and you must call me ‘Vernie’ again, just once more, and kiss me as you used to do in the old days.’ She turned and caught him passionately to her breast, and murmured in his ear, ‘Vernie, Vernie. God bless you for ever.’ ‘God bless you Nell,’ he responded as he kissed her heartily in return. ‘I am going now,’ she said presently with trembling lips, ‘and we may not meet again--not just yet. You offered to do great things for me, Vernie, but I would rather you were a friend to my old father. If--if--anything should happen to me, will you be kind to him for my sake? Give him a little help if he should need it, dear, or become his landlord if possible, which would please me better than anything.’