For a full minute she stood with her gloved hand upon the neck of the animal that had carried her so often and so well; then, with a sudden, almost furtive movement, she bent forward and pressed her face against the cropped mane. "Take care of her, Tim!" she said unsteadily--"take care of her! I'll come back some day, you know." And without looking at the old man, she turned and walked out of the yard. She met no one on her way to the house; but as she passed across the hall, she was suddenly arrested by the sight of Milbanke descending the stairs, already arrayed in a conventional frock-coat. Unconsciously she paused. From the first she had vaguely understood that he would discard his usual serge suit on the day of the wedding; but the actual sight of these unfamiliar clothes came as a shock, bringing home to her the imminence of the great event as nothing else could possibly have done. He looked unusually old, thin, and precise in the stiff, well-cut garments--a circumstance that was unkindly enhanced by the fact that he was palpably and uncontrollably nervous. There was a moment of embarrassed silence. Then, mastering her emotions, Clodagh advanced to the foot of the stairs, holding out her hand. He responded to the gesture with something like gratitude. "You have been out early," he said hurriedly. "Have you been taking a last look round?" Clodagh nodded and turned aside. The pain of her recent farewell still burned in her eyes and throat. He saw and interpreted the action. "Don't take it to heart, my dear!" he said quickly. "You shall return whenever you like. And--and it will be my proud privilege to know that you will always find everything in readiness for you." Clodagh's head drooped. "You are very good," she said in a low, mechanical voice. For a space Milbanke made no response; then suddenly his fingers tightened nervously over the hand he was still holding. "Clodagh," he said anxiously, "you do not regret anything? You know it is not too late--even now." Clodagh glanced up, and for one instant a sudden light leapt into her eyes; the next, her lashes had drooped again. "No," she said, "I regret nothing." Milbanke's fingers tightened spasmodically. "God bless you!" he said tremulously. And leaning forward suddenly, he pressed his thin lips to her forehead.