Do you remember the poem?” Willy did not answer, and noticing that his eyes were blinking, Frank hastily returned to more recent events.” I wrote to her this afternoon telling her how much I loved her, and I said that I would call about nine in the evening at the Manor House, and that I hoped to find her in the drawing-room where we could talk without being disturbed. However, I was too excited, and could not hold out till nine; I thought I had better hear my fate at once, and as I was walking across the field--you know, at the back of Mrs. Heald's--I met her half way. She had a letter in her hand, which she said she was going to leave at Mrs. Heald's for me--She admitted that the letter was in point of fact a refusal, and when I questioned her she admitted that she was obliged to refuse me because she had half promised Charlie. We went for a walk on the beach; we sat on the beach and watched the sunset, and I told her all. I spoke to her about the past, how we had grown up together--how we had been, as it were, from the first fated for each other; for you must admit, Willy, that it is very curious--I don't know if you ever think of it, but I do--how we have met again even when the chances of life seemed to have put us for ever apart. “Here a slight sound warned Frank that the present moment was one as equally unfitted for psychological analysis as for poetry, and he hurried to his story, hoping that the incident of the lock would secure him attention. “Willy, I think I convinced her that I liked her better than that other fellow. We were standing by the lock--Willy, I really do think you might listen.” “My dear fellow, I am listening. You were both looking at the sunset.” “It really is too bad. Of course, if you don't want to hear, and would prefer to go to sleep, you have only to say so.” “My dear fellow, I assure you I wasn't asleep. I only closed my eyes because I can't bear the glare of that candle. I know where you were--you were looking at the sunset.” “No, we weren't.” “Weren't they, Jessie? Are you asleep?” “No, I am not asleep. Do hold your tongue, Willy, I want to hear the story. You were standing by the lock, Mr. Escott.” “Ah, yes, so they were.” “I felt it was my duty, so I told her that I felt it was my mission to save--to save her from that man, and I made her promise me not to see him again.” “Then it is all right. Nobody can be more glad than I am. I hate the fellow.” “She will not keep her promise. Of course she may only have done it to tease me; but as we were going home she said she could not walk out of the room if she happened to be there when he called, nor could she leave word with the servants to say that they were not at home. She made a lot of excuses. What are you laughing at, Mrs. Brookes?” “I am really very sorry, Mr. Escott, but I couldn't help wondering if she would change her mind again if you were to go back to the lock.” Frank took up the candle and turned to go.