The tryst was a great stone under a holly tree, and through the stillness, over a sodden mat of fallen leaves, she came and found David waiting. He had not heard her, and he did not see her, for his back was turned and he sat on the stone, his chin in his hands, very deep in thought. His hat was off and his hair was brushed up on end. He wore velveteens and gaiters, and had made some additions to his usual week-day toilet in the shape of a collar, a tie and a white linen shirt. The collar appeared too tight and once he tugged at it and strained his neck. For a little while Margaret watched him, then she came forward and stood by him and put out her hand. He jumped up, hot and red; then, for a long time, he shook the small hand extended to him. As he did so, she blushed and felt an inclination to weep. His slow voice steadied her emotion and calmed them both. "Sit here, if not too hard for ’e. ’Tis dry fern. I found it a bit ago." She mounted the stone with help from his arm. Then he sat beside her. "I think it terrible kind of you to be here," he said. "To come here for to listen to a great gawkim like me." "You’re not a gawkim. You’re the wittiest chap this side of the Moor. Leastways my father always says so." "Very kind of him. There’s no man I’d sooner please. Well--well--’tis a thing easily said and yet-- However, all the same, I wouldn’t say it to-day if I hadn’t axed you to come here, for I had a fore-token against it yesterday." "Whatever do you mean?" "A white rabbit. You’ll laugh, but your mother wouldn’t. And my father have a great feeling against ’em, though he can’t explain it, and grows vexed if anybody says anything. Not on the warren; but over on the errish[#] down to Yellowmead I seed it." [#] _Errish_ = Stubble. "I care nothing for that--at least--" She stopped doubtfully. "If you don’t care, more won’t I. Then here goes. Can you hear it? Can a rare maiden like you let a rough chap like me offer to marry her? For that’s what I’ve axed you to come here about." She was silent and he spoke again. "Could you? There’s things in my favour as well as things against me." "There’s nothing, nothing against you, David." "Then you’ll take me!" "And proud and happy to." "Lord! How easy after all," he said--more to himself than to her. "And here I’ve been stewing over this job for two months, and sleeping ill of nights, and fretting. Yet, you see, ’twas the work of a moment. Thank you, thank you very much indeed for marrying me, Madge. I’ll make you the best husband I know how. I must tell you all about the plans I’ve built up in hope you would say ’yes’--hundreds of ’em. And you’ll have to help now."