He hitched his chair towards her and took hold of her hand. "Do you think you are going to love me a little bit?" he asked. She blushed again, and looked down. Then she lifted her eyes to his. "I don't think you know quite what you have made me do," she said. He dropped her hand. "Do you regret it?" he asked sharply. She did not answer his question, but her eyes still held his. "I have never been away from home in my life," she said, "without my father or mother. Now I have left them without a word, to come to you. You seem to take that quite as a matter of course." The tears came into her eyes, although she looked at him steadily. He sprang up from his chair and put his hand on her shoulder. "My poor little girl!" he said, "you feel it. Of course you feel it. You've behaved like a heroine, but you've had to screw up your courage. I don't want you to think of all that. That is why I haven't said anything about it. You mustn't break down." But she had broken down, and she wept freely, while he put his arm round her and comforted her as he might have comforted a child. Presently her sobbing ceased. "You are very kind to me," she said. "But you won't keep me away from my own people, will you--after--after----" "After we are married? God bless me, no. And they won't be angry with you--at least, not for long. Don't fear that. Leave it all to me. We shall be married to-morrow. I've arranged everything." "You have not told me a word about that," she said forlornly. "I didn't mean to tell you a word until to-morrow came," he said. "You are not to brood." "You mean to rush me into everything," she said. "If I am to be the companion to you that I want to be, you ought to take me into your confidence." "Why, there!" he said, "I believe I ought. You're brave. You're not like other girls. You can imagine that I have had a busy day. I have a special license, signed by no less a person than the Archbishop of Canterbury. Think of that! And we are going to be married in a church. I knew you would like that; and I like it better too. You see I have been thinking of you all the time. Now you mustn't worry any more." He patted her hand. "Go to bed and get a good sleep. I'll come round at ten o'clock to-morrow morning, and we're to be married at eleven. Then a new life begins, and by the Lord I'll make it a happy one for you. Come, give me a smile before I go." She had no difficulty in doing that now. He took her chin in his fingers, turned her face up to his and looked into her eyes earnestly. Then he left her. She had finished her breakfast, which had been cleared away, when he came in to her the next morning. She was sitting in a chair by the empty grate with her hands in her lap, and she looked pale. Mackenzie had on a frock coat, and laid a new silk hat and a new pair of gloves on the table as he greeted her with unsentimental cheerfulness. "Will you sit down?" she said, regarding him with serious eyes. "I want to ask you some questions."