“Will she come?” he murmured, looking furtively down the lane, “or will she make some miserable excuse for stopping away when next I see her? She’s a riddle――a mystery, which I find it difficult to make out.” Another half hour passed away, but no Nelly. The sun had already sunk, and the shades of evening were beginning to descend. He arose from his seat, passed out of his workshop, closed and locked the door, and again looked down the lane. He beheld in the distance the figure of a woman. It was that of Nelly. His heart leaped with delight. “You’re precious late, my lady,” said he, as she approached. “Be I? Well, I couldn’t get away before. It beant no fault of mine if I be late. Now, then, what be ye a-going to tell me?” “You shall learn all in good time,” cried he, putting her arm in his, and strolling along the narrow footway. “You see, Nell, it’s time, I’m thinking, that I should be plain spoken. I find, my lass, that I care a deal more for you than I first imagined. You see, I don’t know how much longer I shall remain in this village――not long, I expect. The fact is, I’ve grown so fond of you that I don’t like to leave――nay, more, I don’t intend to leave until you give me an answer one way or the other.” “An answer――what about?” “What do you suppose it’s about? Can’t you guess?” “No.” “Well, I’m sorry for you. Don’t I tell you that I’m attached to you――that I love you?” He drew her towards him, and covered her lips and face with burning and passionate kisses. She was surprised and annoyed, made as much resistance as possible, and pushed him from her. “What possesses the man,” she cried, “to be mawling a gal in this fashion? If I’d ha’ known of this, I wouldn’t ha’ come.” “Now, Nell,” cried her companion, “why do you seek to tantalise me? You must know by this time my feelings with regard to yourself. Listen to me for a few moments. You know I’ve been doing a good stroke of business; I am greatly respected by all who know me. In addition to this I have been patronised and made much of by the Master of Broxbridge――――” “What has all this to do with me?” “I am telling you these things to prove that I am worthy of you. I am well-to-do, and have every reason to suppose you care something about me.” She laughed derisively at this last observation. His countenance grew dark and wore a malignant expression, but by a violent effort he suppressed his passion for a while. “And be this all you wanted to see me for?” she inquired. “All!” he reiterated, “and enough too, I’m thinking. Now do be a little reasonable. Do you suppose I should have been dangling after you for so long a time for nothing? I tell you again and again, Nelly, that I doat on you.” Here once more he threw his arms round his companion’s neck, and embraced her with passionate fervour. “There, that will do. You certainly are the most daring man I ever came across. Have you anything more to say?” she enquired, in a coquettish manner.