"Very well, so it shall be, then. Only for God's sake look to it for everybody's sake that it don't get out after, and ruin you all. I shouldn't sleep in my grave if I thought the life-long secret was common knowledge." "You can trust them to keep it, I should think." "The girls, yes; but Heathman's so easy and careless." "Suppose you was to marry me even now, Nat, would that help?" "I'll do it, as I've always said I'll do it. But that means I should be in honour bound to pay five thousand to my first wife's people. Well, I can't--I can't at this moment--not a penny of it. Just now I'm a good deal driven. In a year or two I might, no doubt; but there's that tells me a year or two----" He put up his hand to his throat. "You swore to me on your oath that you were better, last time you came down by night." "I was; but--it's here, Priscilla--deep down and---- Maybe 'twill lift again, and maybe it won't. But we must be ready. I'd give my eternal soul if things were a little straighter; but time--plenty of time--is wanted for that, and 'tis just time I can't count upon. I'm not so young as I was, and I've not the head for figures I used to have." "If you don't marry, you've got absolute power to dispose of that five thousand. 'Tis yours, in fact. Yet at best that's a paltry quibble, as you've admitted sometimes." "Leave it," he said. "Don't let this day be nought but cloud. We're married afore God, but not afore man, because to do that would have lost me five thousand pounds. When I die, I've the right to make over that money to you--at least, what's left of it." "That's a certainty for me and Heathman and Phyllis?" "Leave it--leave it," he cried irritably. "You know that what a man can do I shall do. You're more to me than any living thing--much, much more. You're my life, and you've been my life for thirty years--and you will be to the end of my life. I know where I stand and how I stand." "Don't think I'd care to live a day longer than you do, Nat. Don't think I'm careful for myself after you be gone. 'Tis only for your boy and girl as I care to know anything." He took her hand. "I know you well enough--you priceless woman!" he answered. "Let's go a bit further through the forest. Come what may, all's got to be bright and cheerful at Cora's wedding; and after, when they've got their money, I'll have a good go into things with Mr. Popham, my lawyer at Cornwood. He's heard nothing yet, but he shall hear everything. Have no fear of the upshot. I know where I've always trusted, and never in vain." Like two children they walked hand in hand together. For a long time neither spoke, then she addressed him. "You've taught me to be brave and put a bright face on life afore the world, and now I'll not be wanting."