George and Marks had walked to the door talking. Before they went out George turned back suddenly into the inner room, where Bess was instinctively doing a little tidying up. He went across to where she stood and took her hands in his. ‘Bess,’ he said, almost solemnly, ‘I love you very dearly, and you know it. What I am going to do to-night I am doing for your sake. If I fail, your love may have a rude shock. Wish me God speed.’ She threw her arms about his neck and kissed him. ‘God speed you, my darling,’ she murmured. ‘But happy days are coming now.’ ‘Pray God you may be right!’ he cried. Then he clasped her to his breast for a moment and was gone. Outside he took Marks by the arm. ‘Listen,’ he said. ‘I am going on a desperate errand to-night, I can’t tell you everything, and Bess has no idea how much depends on this interview. If I fail, it will be necessary for me to get away for awhile. I can’t drag her through the perils I shall have to encounter.’ The young man’s manner was so solemn, that old Marks was alarmed. ‘Oh, Master George, what do you mean?’ he exclaimed nervously. ‘I can’t tell you. I only want you to promise me this. If I fail, I shall leave the place at once, for a time. I want you to guard my poor girl for a time, till I can make a home for her elsewhere. Promise me!’ ‘I promise. But you are exaggerating, Master George. The squire won’t be cruel. I am sure he will forgive you.’ ‘I don’t know; he may not. If he doesn’t, I am a penniless beggar. I can starve, but she can’t. You won’t turn her out?’ ‘Turn her out? I’m her father, Master George.’ The young man pointed to the hall. ‘The man who lives there is mine, but he drove me out of my home.’ ‘You went of your own accord.’ ‘No, he drove me out, I tell you; and now I am coming back to him like a whipped cur to plead for mercy.’ The struggle between pride and necessity was raging in the young man’s breast. ‘Go and get the dog away, Marks,’ he exclaimed passionately, ‘and let me go, or I shall turn tail even now.’ Marks walked up to the hall, loosed the dog, and, holding him by the collar, led him away across the grounds some distance from the house. At the same moment there was a movement in the shrubbery on the other side of the house, and a big, burly man came creeping round in the shadow and stole noiselessly up the stairs. At the same time another man, much thinner and shorter, came from the same place, and, keeping along by the walls of the house, went round to where a short garden ladder stood against the side of the house where & creeper was being trained. It was immediately under the library window. When Marks had been gone some little time, and George knew that the dog would be beyond hearing distance, he came up through the trees towards the house. Marks was to lead the dog round and take him back to the lodge, and wait there with Bess till George returned. The moment had arrived.