He turned to one corner of the clearing, where the moss grew thick and soft, and pulling down some branches, together with long fronds of bracken, he built a rough bower to shelter her from the cool breeze, and give her at least a thought of privacy. Then he spread his cloak upon the ground, and rolled the wide cape over a pile of leaves and grass to form a rough pillow. He eyed his handiwork with an air of dissatisfaction. "’Tis a poor place," he muttered; "but I can do no more to-night." Barbara crossed to his side; she looked up at him with a sudden smile, but her eyes were soft and dark with unshed tears. "For this, for a thousand kindnesses, Captain Protheroe, I must remain forever in your debt." She held out her hand; he stooped low before her, and pressed it to his lips. "Madame, I am amply rewarded." So he answered her, and had she met the look in his eyes she had known that his words were true. Long after Barbara’s tired eyes had closed in sleep, Captain Protheroe lay silent, motionless, lost in thought. Twelve hours ago he had held rank in the royal army, rich in wealth, in power, in all the prosperity and happiness of a favoured officer. Now he was an outcast from his profession, an exile from his home, a rebel over whose head hung the penalty of death. Yet he did not blame his fate. For there, beside him, an outlaw as he, helpless save for his protection, was the one woman in the world who throughout his life had awakened the worship of his nature, and though the star of his fortunes hung low and dim on the horizon, yet before him, in the darkness gleamed the rising star of love. Yes, he was amply repaid. So these two rested peacefully in the shade of the sheltering leaves, while behind them in Taunton, Prudence and Robert tossed sleepless, in a consternation of wonder and doubt, and Cicely, to whom Prue had confided the whole story, prayed desperately the night through in an agony of newly awakened hope. *CHAPTER XVII* Barbara opened her eyes wonderingly and gazed upwards into a maze of soft shimmering green. She had slept long and soundly on her improvised couch, and some moments passed ere she could collect her thoughts, and solve the mystery of her surroundings. But gradually the events of the previous night took shape from the mist of dreams that clouded her brain, and she awoke to the new day. With a prayer of thankfulness for her safety she sprang from her couch, and stepped out of her bower into the wider enclosure beyond. But there she paused, with a quick gasp of wonder and delight at the scene which met her eyes.