Katherine controlled herself sternly. She shook hands calmly, saying it was cool by the water and a pleasant place to be. "Solitude is good sometimes." She had felt too restless to stay beneath the trees--even her will could not keep her disturbed thoughts from speculation as to what the day might bring. And now the Duke was here beside her, and the situation must be faced. He came close and leaned upon the quaint wooden rails trying to look down into her averted face, while he whispered: "I had rather enjoy a _solitude à deux_." He saw that she was pale and that her manner was restrained. Did she possibly misunderstand the purpose of his coming? "Look," and she pointed over to the swans--"they perhaps agree with you--they swim lazily about together, dignified and composed, far from turmoil and agitating currents. One envies the birds and beasts and fishes--sometimes," and she sighed. "You must not sigh--look at me, Katherine. I want to see your eyes." But she disobeyed him and turned the broad lids down. He leaned closer still, and this caused a wave of emotion to sweep over her, producing the same feeling which she had once thought only Lord Algy in all the world could evoke in her--so that the Duke saw those little nostrils quiver, which his friend Seraphim had spoken to him about, and the sight gave him great joy. "Look at me, Katherine!" and now his voice was full of command. Then she slowly raised her gray-green eyes and he saw that they were troubled, in spite of the passion that lay in their depths. "Why do you come here and speak to me like this?" and in her voice there was reproach. "We said farewell at Valfreyne--that was the end--I understood--Why do you come again to trouble me now?" "Because I could not keep away--because I love you, darling child." She drew back, shivering with the pain of the struggle which was developing in her soul. "Hush, you must not say that to me, I ask you not to, please." But since coldness and repulsion were not what he read in her glance, her words did not discourage him. "I was very foolish at Valfreyne, Katherine, ever to have said farewell, but now I have come here to Blissington to tell you that I love you passionately, my darling, and your dear sympathy and understanding saw into my mind, and grasped the prejudices therein. But now the blindness has fallen from my eyes--I adore you, my Beloved One--Katherine, I want you to be my wife." His voice had never been more beautiful. His splendid presence had never appeared more impressive, nor the fascination of the man more supreme. And he was there, a suppliant before her asking her to be his wife!