Her cheeks were flushed with excitement; there was a light in her eyes; the streaming locks certainly were not unbecoming; nor did the blush with which she received his words detract from the general effect. "Herbert, you naughty boy, you don't mean to say you nearly broke my window simply to make me put my head out, and I'm in this state!" "Well, not exactly; though it would have been worth breaking a window for. I chucked that gravel up at your window because I've something to say to you which has got to be said now, if it's to be said at all; only don't shout." "Am I shouting?" "I thought I'd just give you the hint in case you felt as if you'd like to. Somehow, do you know, the more I look at you the more I seem to want to; if I could only get at you." "It's lucky you can't; what do you want to say? Do you know I'm freezing?" "You remember what we were talking about yesterday?" "Am I likely to have forgotten?" "I've been thinking things over, and I've come to the conclusion that if you're game I am." "Game? game for what? what do you mean?" Mr. Nash glanced round, as if to ascertain if any one was in sight, then dropped his voice. "To marry." "Herbert!" Her heart seemed to leap into her mouth, as if the word, coming from his lips, touched a spring and made it bound. "You said you'd like the marriage to be at once; what do you say to our being married to-morrow?" "Herbert!" At the moment she could only trust herself to repeat his name, she was in such a curious state of tremblement. "Do you know that Guldenheim and his crowd are in the house?" "I've just heard." "A nice lot they are; you can't stop in the house with them; you'll have to clear." "I told you I should." "You'd better pack everything you've got and I'll send a trap for you; they may object to your taking anything out of the stable; it's quite possible that they've laid hands on the lot. Anyhow I'll send something for you; how long'll you be?" "Half-an-hour." "Not more?" "I can't tell you to the exact moment how long I'll be; don't be absurd. You send the trap in half-an-hour, and I'll be as quick as ever I can. Where's it going to take me?" "To the station; I'll meet you there." "Why at the station?" "You poor little thing! we're going off together; it's going to be a regular elopement." "Herbert! How are we going to get married?" "How soon can you get some of your aunt's money?" "I've got enough by me to go on with." "How much do you call enough?" "Oh, about ninety pounds." "You sly little thing! Who'd have thought you were stuffed with money like this? It's not so long ago since I pointed out a big hole in your glove, and you said you had to wear old gloves, because you couldn't afford to buy yourself a pair of new ones." "I dare say; that was a hint to you." "Was it? then it was thrown away, because if I possessed the price of a pair of gloves it was as much as I did have; though in the sweet by and by I'm going to be a millionaire."