"Ah!" came from out of the darkness, sounding like an eager cry of joy; and she who uttered the cry darted off with all the quickness of one accustomed to the woods, taking almost instinctively the road pursued by Rolph, and overtaking him at the end of a few minutes. "Rob--Rob!" she panted. "Hush, stupid!" he growled. "You've come then at last. See any one among the trees?" "No, dear, not a soul. Oh, Rob, I thought I should never be able to come to-night." "Humph! Didn't want to, I suppose." "Rob!" Only one word, but the tone of reproach sounded piteous. "Why weren't you waiting, then?--You were not up yonder, were you?" he added sharply. "No, dear. I've only just got here. Father seemed as if he would never go out to-night, and it is a very, very long way to come." "Hullo! How your heart beats. Why, Judy, you must go into training. You are out of condition. I can feel it thump." "Don't, Rob, pray. I want to talk to you. It's dreadfully serious." "Then I don't want to hear it." "But you must, dear. Remember all you've said. Listen to me, pray." "Well, go on. What is it?" "Rob, dear, I'm in misery--in agony always. You're staying again at Brackley, and after all you said." "Man can't do as he likes, stupid little goose; not in society. I must break it off gently." There was a low moan out of the darkness where the two figures stood, and, added to the mysterious aspect of the lane where all was black below, but silvered above by the moonbeams. "What a sigh," whispered Rolph. "Rob, dear, pray. Be serious now. I want you to listen. You must break all that off." "Of course. It's breaking itself off. Society flirtation, little goose; and if you'll only be good, all will come right." "Oh, Rob, if you only knew!" "Well, it was your fault. If you hadn't been so cold and stand-offish, I shouldn't have gone and proposed to her. Now, it must have time." "You're deceiving me, dear; and it is cruel to one who makes every sacrifice for your sake." "Are you going to preach like this for long? Because if so, I'm off." "Rob!" in a piteous tone. "I've no one to turn to but you, and I'm in such trouble. What can I do if you forsake me. I came to-night because I want your help and counsel." "Well, what is it?" "Father would kill me if he knew I'd come." "Ben Hayle's a fool. I thought he was fond of you." "He is, dear. He worships me; but you've made me love you, Rob, and though I want to obey him I can't forget you. I can't keep away." "Of course you can't. It's nature, little one." "Rob, will you listen to me?" "Yes. Be sharp then." "Pray break that off then at once at Brackley, and come to father and ask him to let us be married directly." "No hurry." "No hurry?--If you knew what I'm suffering." "There, there; don't worry, little one. It's all right, I tell you. Do you think I'm such a brute as to throw you over? See how I chucked Madge for your sake."