'And you will repent having said it to me before the night is out, Colonel Vaughan, and you do not mean it. Think of who I am; think of Miss Gwynne; think of yourself. Oh! this is cruel, cruel jesting to all!' 'I was never more serious in my life.' As Colonel Vaughan said this, he saw nothing, thought of nothing, but the peculiar beauty of the creature who stood, flushed and agitated, at his side. He forgot himself and his purposes, in his temporary blind admiration. 'Now, Gladys, I await your answer,' he said, not doubting what that answer would be. 'I have no answer to give, sir, because I know that, even if you now think yourself in earnest, you will be no longer so to-night.' 'Before we leave this wood, girl, I will and must have an answer, and beware how you irritate me.' He seized her hand as he spoke, and held it tight. 'You will release me before I answer you, sir; I have gone through too many dangers and temptations to be frightened into speech.' He released her hand, but kept his eyes fixed on her face. She did not quail, though she felt her heart beat violently. 'If you are serious, sir, I ought, I suppose, to be grateful for so strange an honour; but I do not believe you are so, and my answer is, that a servant such as I, can have nothing to say to a gentleman such as you.' 'A servant! You will be no longer a servant. You are not one at this moment.' Again he seized her hand. She was frightened, but did not loose her self-command. 'Sir, you had now better let me return home. Miss Gwynne will wonder what has become of me. It is time that she should be ready--that you, sir, should be ready. What will she think and say?' 'I care not; nothing shall turn me from my purpose. You shall not leave this wood until you promise.' 'Then I shall never leave it, sir; and if you persist in detaining me, I will make known to every one, how a gentleman can demean himself to a poor, unprotected girl, who has no friend near her but her God. To Him I appeal for help in this hour, when you, sir, a gentleman and a Christian, so far forget yourself as to insult and persecute me.' As Gladys spoke, she lifted her eyes solemnly to heaven--both her hands were held by Colonel Vaughan. As he gazed at her, he suddenly relaxed his hold, saying, 'You are a wonderful girl! I do not persecute you, but I will not give you up.' No sooner did Gladys feel the grasp loosen, than she made a sudden bound, almost a leap, onwards, and ran with incredible swiftness through the path. Colonel Vaughan pursued her, but soon found that she ran more swiftly than he did. However, he would not give up the chase, and in spite of the hot sun, ran on, in somewhat undignified haste and anger. Every one knows that winding paths in plantations are not always perfectly smooth. So found our gallant colonel to his cost.