‘Nothing is wrong whilst you love me,’ said Frederick, ‘but we are watched, darling, so I have pretended to go home again. Have you the pluck to join me in the garden? There are any number of arbours here where we can talk undisturbed.’ ‘Pluck,’ cried Jenny, jumping on the window sill, ‘of course I have. Pluck enough to follow you over a precipice, if you wish me to do so.’ ‘You angel. I will ask you to take no more dangerous leap than into my arms. But were you seen? Did anyone follow you? We must not have an open row.’ ‘No, no one even saw me leave the ballroom, for I was at the buffet with Captain Rawson, when number five dance struck up, so I told him to go and find his partner and leave mine to seek me out. And as soon as his back was turned I slipped out here.’ ‘You dear girl! Give me your hand, then, and jump out; there is a lovely seat under that acacia tree--but what will you say if your mother asks where you have been?’ ‘That I have been strolling in the garden with my partner. She will think it was Captain Rawson; but she will not ask. She is used to my vagaries, and lets me do just as I choose.’ ‘But, darling, they won’t let you do that any longer, I’m afraid. I’ve had a lecture as well as you, Jenny. Mr Hindes followed me to the picture gallery just now, by your father’s request, and made me promise I would give up all pretensions to your hand, and leave off visiting at your house.’ ‘And do you mean to keep your promise?’ inquired the girl, pouting. ‘Not unless you tell me to do so, Jenny; I love you too much for that. I only did it to prevent a row, for if Mr Crampton carried his threat of taking you away from Hampstead into execution, I might find it very difficult to have any communication with you again.’ ‘But what is the good of my staying here if I am never to see you, Fred?’ asked Jenny. ‘That depends upon yourself, my darling; you can’t do it from your father’s house, that’s certain.’ ‘Who’s from, then?’ said Jenny. ‘From mine, sweetheart! Don’t think me very bold, but, if you love me as you say, you will marry me whether your parents give their consent or not.’ ‘So I will, if you will only tell me how, Fred.’ ‘We must elope together, dearest; heaps of husbands and wives have done it before us, and been none the worse. Your father says that if you marry without his consent, he will leave you none of his money; that is a thing you must take into serious consideration, before you give me your answer. I have enough for both of us, still, you would be a richer woman if you remained your father’s heiress; his fortune cannot be less than ten thousand a year, whilst mine is only two thousand.’ ‘What do I care for money in comparison with you, Fred?’ whispered Jenny.