Then she turned and, ere he knew, was on her knees before him, had twined soft arms about his neck, and was looking up at him through shining tears. "Yes, I'm--crying a little! I don't do it often, dear--tears don't easily come with me. But now I'm crying because--oh, because I'm so proud--so proud to have won such a wonderful love. Good night--good night! Oh, break your word for once--kiss me, my husband!" So while she knelt to him thus, he kissed her until she sighed and stirred in his embrace. Then she rose and hand in hand they crossed the room and he opened the door; for a blissful moment they stood there silent in the shadows, but when he would have kissed her again she laughed at him through her tears and fled from him up the wide stairway. CHAPTER XLIII HOW SPIKE GOT EVEN A clock in the hall without struck midnight, but Ravenslee sat on long after the silvery chime had died away, his chin sunk on broad chest, his eyes staring blindly at the fading embers, lost in profound but joyful meditation; once he turned to look where she had stood beside the mantel, and once he reached out to touch the thrice-blessed chair that had held her. The curtains stirred and rustled at the open window behind him, but he sat looking into the flickering fire, seeing there pictures of the future, and the future was full of a happiness beyond words, for in every picture Hermione moved. All at once he started and glanced swiftly around, his lounging attitude changing to one of watchful alertness, for he had heard a sound that drew rapidly nearer--the hiss and pant of breath drawn in quick gasps. Silently he arose and turned to see the curtains swing apart and a shapeless something stagger forward and fall heavily. Then he reached out to the switch beside the hearth, and the room was flooded with brilliant light; the figure kneeling just inside the swaying curtains uttered a strangled cry and threw up a hand before his face, a hand dark with spattering blood. "Oh, Geoff--oh, Geoff!" panted Spike, "I ain't--come thievin' this time--honest t' God, I ain't!" "Why, you're hurt--what's the matter?" "They see me down th' road as I came an' shot me, but this ain't nothin'. Out th' lights, Geoff--out 'em--quick!" But Ravenslee had crossed the room, had seized the lad's arm, and was examining the ugly graze that bled so freely. "That ain't nothin'--douse th' lights, Geoff--out 'em quick. Bud's coming here close behind--Bud an' Heine--they mean t' plug you--oh, put out th' lights--" Instinctively Ravenslee turned, but even as he did so Spike uttered a hoarse cry.