"Dick! Oh, Dick!" the words would come out now. Miss Middleton had judiciously vacated the corner of the couch, and Dick had boldly placed himself there instead, after first touching Nan's trembling hand. "What does it mean? Why have you startled me so?" she whispered, for they were in a snug corner, and no one was near them. "I suppose a man has a right to come and look after his own belongings?" returned Dick, in the coolest possible manner. But his eyes were more eloquent than his words, as usual. "How lovely you are looking, Nan! I do believe you grow prettier every day. And are you glad to see me?--half or a quarter as glad as I am to see you?" "I was thinking of you," she returned, softly. "I was wondering what you were doing, and picturing you at Longmead; and then the door opened, and there you were, half hidden by Harry; and I thought I was dreaming." "Well, that was transmission of thought, don't you see?--animal magnetism, and all that sort of thing. You thought of me because I was thinking of you; but you did not know that only the door divided us. Oh, Nan! isn't it awfully jolly to be together again?" "Yes; but I don't understand it yet," she replied. "Have you come without your father's permission, Dick? Are you sure he will not be very angry?" "Oh, no; the pater is all right. Sir Harry--what a brick that fellow is!--has talked him over, and he has given his consent to our engagement. Look here, Nan! what you have got to do is to pack up your things, and I am to take you down to-morrow. This is a note from mother, and you will see what she says." And Nan's gloved hand closed eagerly upon the precious missive. The letter could not be read just then. Nan sent Dick away after that, though he would willingly have remained in his corner during the remainder of the evening. He went off grumbling, to be civil to his hostess, and Nan remained behind trying to calm herself. It was "all right," Dick had told her. She was to go down with him the next day to dear Longmead. Were their troubles really over? Well, she would hear all about it to-morrow. She must wait patiently until then. Nan did not long remain alone. Archie, who had watched this little scene from the bay-window, suddenly took his opportunity and crossed the room. Nan looked up at him with a happy smile. "You have had a surprise this evening, have you not, Miss Challoner? Sir Harry has just been telling me all about it. You will permit me now to offer my congratulations?" "Most certainly, Mr. Drummond." "I am so glad, for both your sakes, that things should be so comfortably settled," he went on, placing himself beside her,--a movement that mightily displeased Dick, who had conceived a dislike to the handsome parson from the first. "A parent's opposition is always a serious drawback in such cases; but Sir Harry tells me that Mr. Mayne has given his full consent."