“My _beloved_,” he said. And in the strong emphasis of the word there seemed to lurk all the pent-up passion of the long years of separation. For the first time since that September morning when they had talked in the garden at Hereford, before hearing of Powick fight, their lips met in a kiss that was like a sacrament, and each knew that nothing could ever again part them. But their happiness was short-lived, for the children ran through the gap in the hedge, and Little Meg said, breathlessly, “Mistress Hilary! there be someone coming into the orchard.” “It looks like one of the officers from Canon Frome,” said Nan, uneasily, her mind dwelling on cattle-lifting and plundering. “What if it should be Norton!” said Gabriel, trying to get up. “You must not show yourself,” said Hilary, earnestly. “All will be ruined if you are seen. Dear love, promise me, and then I shall have no fear.” “’Tis true I should be worse than no defence,” said Gabriel, reluctantly. Hilary hastily placed her cloak so as to screen him a little better from view, and made the children sit in the gap to block the way. “Nan and Meg, you will not betray him, I know,” she said. “Sit there and weave daisy chains.” Glancing at the approaching figure, she saw that it was indeed Norton, and, anxious to prevent him from drawing too near to the hedge, she went forward to meet him. She wondered now how she could ever have been deceived by him, and hated herself for having allowed him for a moment to make her distrust Gabriel’s love. Norton’s greeting was eager and full of charm. “This is clearly a red-letter day in my calendar, Mistress Hilary. First, I have news of Prince Rupert’s success at Ledbury, and then I have the crowning happiness of meeting you.” “’Tis indeed a fair morning,” said Hilary. “You are doubtless going by the field-path to Ledbury to gain further tidings. I will not detain you. Good day, sir,” and she curtseyed, hoping to dismiss him. “Oh! I am in no haste; my horse has cast a shoe, and I have sent it on to Diggory, the smith. Prince Rupert is sure to pursue Massey most of the way to Gloucester, ’tis ever his failing to press the chase too far. I will rest awhile in this pleasant orchard.” Poor Hilary, only longing for him to go, felt that she was indeed being punished for having allowed him in former times to be too much with her. “I wonder whether you have thought over what I said to you the day before yesterday,” observed Norton, eagerly watching her. “The day before yesterday,” she said, with a puzzled look. “What happened then?” “You are not complimentary,” he replied, laughing. “Perhaps you have forgotten all about it. But I remember very well that I had the happiness of walking with you from the Hill Farm to the Vicarage, and of offering you----” “Was that only the day before yesterday? To me it seems half a lifetime ago,” said Hilary.