"Only a short distance;" and Captain Southorn motioned to the wood that lay not far from the rear of the house. "Who is this Hugh?" he inquired, as they walked slowly along, the dry leaves crackling under their feet. "Is he the sergeant, Hugh Knollys, who went with your brother yesterday?" "Yes;" and something in his tone impelled her to add, "and I've known him all my life." "Oh, yes," he said, knitting his brows a little, as he kicked the leaves before him, "I remember right well. It was he I used to see riding about the country with you so much last summer." "He is like my own brother," she explained quickly, not feeling quite comfortable in something she detected in his manner of speech. "Is he?" now looking at her smilingly. "And does he regard you in the same fraternal fashion?" "Why, of course," she answered frankly. "Hugh and I have always known one another; we have gone riding and boating together for years, have quarrelled and made up, just as Jack and I have done. Only," and now she spoke musingly, "I cannot remember that Jack ever quarrelled much with me." "No, I should say not, from what I've seen of him," her husband said heartily. By this time they were in the seclusion of the wood; and now his arms went about her and held her fast. "Sweetheart, tell me once more that you love me," he said. "I only brought you here to have you tell it to me again, and in broad daylight." She rested her head on his arm and smiled up into his face. "How many times must I tell you?" "With each sweet breath you draw, if you tell me as many times as I would wish to hear. But this is certain to be the last moment I shall have to see you alone, as you are to start for Dorchester, and I for Boston. And you will surely--surely join me there as soon as I send you word?" He spoke eagerly, and as if fearful that something might arise to make her change her mind. "Yes, to be sure I will,--have I not promised?" "That you have, God bless you. And you will let no one turn you from that, little one?" "Why, who should?" She opened her eyes in surprise, and then there came a flash to them. "No, no, even if every one was to try, they could not do it now. What is that?" She started nervously, and turned her head quickly about, as they both heard a rustling in the bushes. "It is only a rabbit or squirrel," her husband said, "or perhaps a--" There was the sharp report of a gun close by, and a bullet grazed his shoulder and struck the tree-trunk directly over Dorothy's head. The next instant there came the sound of trampling and fierce struggling; and a voice Dorothy knew at once, cried, "You sneaking dastard, what murder is it you 're up to?" "Stop here, little one," said Captain Southorn, calmly, "just a second, until I see what all this means." And he plunged into the tangled thicket beside the path in which they had been standing.