"Of course it is," he answered triumphantly, "but I'd rather have you with nothing at all. I'm quite gone on you, Margaret; I am, indeed." "How dare you call me Margaret?" "All right, then I'm very fond of you, ducky; will that do? And I'll marry you to-morrow if you like--get a special license, wake up the parson, and off we go. You've only got to say the word. Now, come, give us a kiss and say it's all right. I'm not a bad sort, I tell you, and I'm bound to get on, and we'll do all manner of things when we are married--you bet. Come now?" "Mr. Garratt," Margaret said in a low voice, "it's very kind of you to want to marry me, but--but I want you to understand," and the hot tears rushed down her flushed cheeks, "that I simply can't bear you." "That's a straight one--you do give them out, you know." "And I wouldn't marry you for the world," she went on; "either you must make it up with Hannah, or you must leave off coming here." She had brushed away her tears, and, flushed and haughty, looked him imploringly in the face. "Oh, I say, don't go on like this; I wouldn't make you unhappy for the world," and he went a step forward. "Oh, do keep back!" she said with another shudder. "I hate you--" "All right, hate me," his wounded vanity getting the better of him, "but I'll have something for my pains at any rate," and in a moment he had darted forward and tried to clasp her in his arms. Margaret gave a cry of fright that ended in one of astonishment, for suddenly the leaves that formed a low wall half-way round her cathedral parted and Lena appeared. "You mustn't be so cruel!" she cried. He let go Margaret and stood gaping at Lena, who crossed over to the tree. "I said you would have to love us, little Margaret; I've come to rescue you," she said, and put her arms round Margaret, to whom it seemed as if her Eden were full of serpents. "Well, if you don't mind, I should like to know who the deuce you are, miss?" said Mr. Garratt, astonished, but not in the least confused. "I'm Margaret's friend," Lena answered, in her sugary voice. "And what business is this of yours?" he inquired, insolently. "I know her father and I know her. Darling," she said, pulling Margaret towards her, "I told you in London it was always best to tell everything about yourself," and then she turned to Mr. Garratt. "She doesn't go to church; it's very wrong of her, but she would go if she were coaxed. Perhaps she'll go with me some day. And there isn't any mystery about her family. It's a very, very old one, isn't it, dear?" she said, looking at Margaret. "It came over with the Conqueror." "Well, mine may have scudded about with Noah's for all I know to the contrary. What's that got to do with it?" Mr. Garratt asked. "He means it for a joke, darling," Lena said to Margaret. "He doesn't mean to be rude--" She stood with her arms round Margaret, looking with soft reproachfulness at Mr. Garrett.