Utterly unable to withstand him, Adrienne let her head sink on his shoulder. It was broad enough and strong enough to bear all her life's burdens, she knew. She was a little dazed and bewildered by his impetuosity, and then remembered that this was more like the cousin who had come down to her uncles and insisted that she should come to the aid of her aunt. It was only lately that he had been so grave and self-contained. And Guy had no single thought now but of kissing away his loved one's tears, of seeing the light gradually creep into her soft grey eyes, and the sunshiny smile return to her quivering lips. This Adrienne, lonely, forlorn and dejected, disappointed and disillusioned in her childhood's home, was a different girl to the dignified stately young lady who had accused him of being all that she disliked, mysterious, reserved and complacent in his reticence. That accusation had hurt him; he had no room in his heart for hurts or injuries now, it was all taken up with his overflowing love and passion for her. If Adrienne had wished to free herself from his strong protective hold, she could not. But she lay passive in his arms, and when his lips touched hers, she could only turn her face a little, and hide it on his shoulder. "You—you haven't allowed me time or breath to speak," she at last managed to say. "My darling, I'm waiting to hear you. But I'm not afraid. If I haven't inspired you with feelings of love or confidence in myself, I know that I've the power in me to do it. It has come to me now that you and I are meant for each other, that God above has drawn us together, and has been slowly but surely demolishing all the barriers that might have loomed up between us." Then he added: "I asked you before to join me in making a home. I had that vision perpetually before my eyes—but now it isn't the home I think about, it is you yourself, and only yourself that I want to win." And then Adrienne looked up at him, and the light shone in her eyes and smile. "And that is what I want to hear," she whispered; "and I only want in the whole wide world, just you." It was winter time, but the pines whispered and rustled their tops together above them, and the golden sun that was already nearing the horizon sent its shafts of glory across the wood to greet the pair of lovers. The golden rays hovered on the two heads so close together, the cheerful chattering of the birds preparing their beds for the night gradually ceased, and a sudden hush fell upon the woodlands round them. Adrienne roused herself with a little quivering laugh: