"’Tis everything in the world to me," he said solemnly. "You little know how you’ve been on my mind. My folk will tell you now, no doubt, how it has been with me. That glowering and glumping I’ve been--not a word to throw at man or woman. But they’ll see a different chap to-night!" She put out her hand timidly. Would he never touch her? Was she never to put her face against his? Love reigned in his plans, and the little things that he had thought of surprised her; but there came no arm round her, no fierce caress, no hot storm of kisses. He talked hopefully--even joyfully, with his eyes upon her face; but there was no sex-light in their brightness; while hers were dreamy with love and dim with unshed tears. "I must get back-along with the great news now," he said. "And it will be well if we’re moving. Coarse weather’s driving up again. I’ll see you home first." "You’ll come in and tell mother?" "Must I?" "Yes," she answered. "You’ve got to obey me now, you dear David. I wish it." "Then off we go." He helped her down like a stranger and talked of crops as they returned to Coombeshead. Rhoda was better at figures than he was. He hoped that Margaret was good at figures. She said waywardly that she was not, and he regretted it but felt sure that she would soon learn. A rain-laden dusk descended over Eylesbarrow as they returned, and through, the gloaming the white lintel and door-posts of the farm stared like an eye. Silence fell between them, and during its progress some touch of nature woke in David. After they had crossed the stream and reached a rush-clad shed where a cart stood, he spoke in a voice grown muddy and gruff. "Come in here a minute," he said, "afore we go on, Madge. I want--I want--" She turned and they disappeared. "I want to kiss you," he said. A fearful clatter ascended from long-legged fowls roosting on the cart, for their repose was roughly broken. They clucked and cried until Mrs. Stanbury, supposing a fox had descended from the lulls, hastened out to frighten it away. Then she met Margaret and David--shame-faced, joyous. "We’m tokened, mother!" cried the man; "and please God, I’ll be a dutiful second son to you." "Thank you for that," she said. "Give you joy, I’m sure. And I’ll be proud to have you for a son; and may you never repent your bargain." She put up her face to his and kissed him; and since he still held Madge by the waist, all three were thus, for an instant, united in a triple caress.