"Don't speak in a tone so light, sweetheart. 'Sweetheart' still a little longer. You women do think a tone of voice makes truth less true and falsehood less false. You say the same words in different voices and mean different by them. And a man must grow skilled in your sounds, like a hunter grows clever in the sounds of wild things, not counting the weight of the words. You say you liked him as you might like such a one that held your stirrup or opened a gate; but you and me are at a place now where you've got to speak sacred truth--solemn, slow, each word forged to last till doom. Did you love that man?" "What is it to love a man?" He bowed his head. "I'm answered," he said. "Oh, Gracie dear--once mine, never mine--you know what 'tis to love a man; but you never did afore you saw him." She marvelled that one who had yesterday driven maiden nails into a doorpost could see so deep. She remembered that it was she who had taught him to read. Tears came to her eyes and shining drops fell glittering on her horse's neck. "You break my heart," she said. "Please God, never! You didn't know; you mistook--what? you mistook something else for love. We were a boy and a girl; and I couldn't choose but worship--you were so lovely in soul and body--so gentle to me--so----" "John," she declared solemnly, "I shall marry you or no man." "You mean it with your whole heart, Gracie? Right well I know you do, and I love to hear you say it, and to see you think it while your beautiful, steadfast eyes fright the tears away." "I love you, I love you indeed, John." "I am content to be loved so," he answered slowly. "And maybe the time that's coming will show the colour of my love for you, since 'tis all too big for words. 'Twill take deeds to set it forth. It calls for deeds to show the pattern of a man's life, and love for you be all that's left of life for me henceforward." CHAPTER II RHYME AND REASON A fortnight after the visit to the old blowing-house, Mr. Peter Norcot arrived from Chagford to stay a while at Fox Tor Farm, and with him he brought more snow. This fact by no means troubled his level temper. He was neither more plain-spoken nor less poetical than usual as he walked out with Grace after noon, and reminded her of Maurice Malherb's intention that she should marry during the coming summer. "Do not think, my dear girl, that Peter is blind. He knows all about Endymion. But positively John Lee as a husband!" "'Tis not the first time I have bade you mind your own business, Peter. You have no right or reason to say these things to me. 'Tis worse than your rhymes. If you were half the man he is!" "Hard words cannot break bones, or kill love. Do what you please; say what you like," "'A very sandal I would be To tread on--if trod on by thee.' I can even rise superior to the necessity of being loved back. I love on and suffer on.