“Do not hold me so tight now,” said Gussy. “I shall not run away. Do you remember the last time--ah! we were not in love with each other then.” “But loved each other--the difference is not very great,” he said, looking at her wistfully, making his eyes once more familiar with her face. “Ah! there is a great difference,” said Gussy. “We were only, as you said, fond of each other; I began to feel it when you were gone. Tell me all that has happened since,” she said, suddenly--“everything! You said you had been coming to ask me that dreadful morning. We have belonged to each other ever since; and so much has happened to you. Tell me everything; I have a right to know.” “Nothing has happened to me but the best of all things,” said Edgar, “and the worst. I have broken my word; I promised to your mother never to put myself in the way; I have disgraced myself, and I don’t care. And this has happened to me,” he said low in her ear, “my darling! Gussy, you are sure you know what you are doing? I am poor, ruined, with no prospects for the moment----” “Don’t, please,” said Gussy, throwing back her head with the old pretty movement. “I suppose you don’t mean to be idle and lazy, and think me a burden; and I can make myself very useful, in a great many ways. Why should I have to think what I am doing more than I ought to have done three years ago, when you came to Thornleigh that morning? I had done my thinking then.” “And, please God, you shall not repent of it!” cried the happy young man--“you shall not repent it, if I can help it. But your mother will not think so, darling; she will upbraid me with keeping you back--from better things.” “That will be to insult me!” cried Gussy, flaming with hot, beautiful anger and shame. “Edgar, do you think I should have walked into your arms like this, not waiting to be asked, if I had not thought all this time that we have been as good as married these three years? Oh! what am I saying?” cried poor Gussy, overwhelmed with sudden confusion. It had seemed so natural, so matter-of-fact a statement to her--until she had said the words, and read a new significance in the glow of delight which flashed up in his eyes.