And there was a spectator, although not a casual one. Suddenly, like a ghost, the figure of her dreams stood before her. Pale, haggard, and dishevelled-looking, he seemed to have risen out of the very ground; and it was very little to be wondered at that, at first, she shrunk back alarmed. "Herbert! Herbert! can it really be you?" He never answered her; but, as the first surprise began to fade away, she moved forward, and would have thrown herself into his arms. But he stopped her. "Keep back, Marian," he cried, hoarsely; "keep away from me! I have come to bid you good-bye." A swift, sudden fear drove the colour from her cheeks, and chilled her through and through; but she faltered out an answer. "Good-bye, Herbert! What do you mean? Oh, tell me what has happened, quick!" "The one thing worse than death, Marian--disgrace!" And then, with his face turned away, and his eyes resting wearily on the picturesque landscape, he told her his story. * * * * * The last word had left his quivering lips, and he stood as though in a dream. The worst was over. He had told his father, and he had told her. It seemed like the end of all things to him. Suddenly a pair of white arms were thrown around his neck, and a great red rose was crushed to pieces against his waistcoat. "Herbert! oh, Herbert! how dreadful! Don't look like that, you frighten me!" He was striving to free himself, but she would not let him go. "Dearest, you don't understand! This is ruin to me. My father has turned me from the house, commanded me to bear another name, disowned me. Be brave, Marian, for we must part. I am here only to tell you this, and to bid you farewell." Still she would not let him go. "You will do nothing of the sort, sir. I'll not be thrown over in that fashion," she said, struggling to smile through her tears. "And, Herbert, oh, Herbert! how ill you look! You've been out all night." He did not deny it, but again he strove to disengage himself. But she would have none of it. "Bertie, dearest," she spoke cheerfully, though her eyes were still swimming with tears, "you mustn't think that you're going to get rid of us in this way. You've just got to come in to breakfast with me, and afterwards we'll tell Grannie all about it. Come along, sir, I insist."