“I wanted to see you--only to see you and not be seen. You have been away--have kept away so long. Have I vexed you? It was what I thought was right. But I’m weak to hold by all I resolved. I only wanted to see you, and now I’ll go.” She moved a quick step towards the gate. He let her retreat a pace or two. For the first time, I think, he realized what he had been doing. He struggled fiercely with himself; but, no, he could not part with her like this. “Betty!” he cried again, softly. “You must come back to me.” She hesitated, turned, and came. He put her in front of him, and took her face between his hands. “Oh, my dear!” he said, “what have I done?” She looked up piteously into his eyes. “No, no,” she whispered, in a drowned voice, “you’re not to blame. You keep your word--you would have me keep mine, like the gentleman you are. It’s--it’s----” “What, Betty?” “Only let me see you now and then--see you, and not be spoken to or noticed.” “How can I prevent you, if you will? But would it be wise?” She drew herself away from him gently but forcibly. “No, it would not,” she said, in a low voice; “but love is never that. Yes, love--why should I hide it? And I have found out what I wanted to know. I shall soon hear the bells ringing for your wedding, and--and--oh! why did you ever kiss me?” And at that she ran from him. He called to her, hurried after her, but she was heedless. He saw her speed up the road, and he durst not follow. He knew that, country-bred girl as she was, she would make little of the miles to Stockbridge, even were her grandfather not awaiting her at a distance, which he thought improbable. Then, retracing his steps with a groan, he went on to his house. He walked sternly. He was not only despicable in his own eyes, but cruel in a manner he had not thought was possible to his nature. As he entered his hall, Dennis came upon him with startled eyes. “Sir,” he said, eagerly, “may I have a word with you?” CHAPTER XXXV. “I have found out where was hid the ‘Lake of Wine.’” Tuke, withdrawn into his dining-hall, was sprung to his feet and faced his serving-man with wide eyes. He, the latter, was all hurried and high-strung. His lips looked as if his teeth were chattering. “God forgive me, sir,” he said, “and grant me no break in your favour. I would, in His holy name, the bugbear had not risen again to vex us. But so it is, and I must do my duty by acquainting you of the particulars.” “Why, man, what’s all the to-do? You are not about to convict yourself?” “Only of carelessness or stupidity, sir, before Heaven. I might have guessed, had I the wit of a mouse. But her cranks and her whimsies, poor soul, have been little inviting to my soberer tastes, and----” “Whose cranks?” “My sister Darda’s.” “Has she revealed the hiding-place?” “She has known it all along, from near the time when she first brought the deadly thing into her collection.”