"Eh--what! Good God!" cried the man; and his emotion heaved up, slow and mighty, like the swing of a wave. He could say nothing; but he kept her face close to his and kissed her pale hair; then his arms tightened round her, and she felt the immense strength of them, and the great uplift of his ribs against her breast. "I can't let 'e go; I'll never let 'e go again, I do believe," he said at last. She knew he was unconsciously bruising her white body, but let him hug. "My darling Blue-eyes!" he cried out, "what have I done to deserve this?" "Made me love you." "Think of it--think of it! When did you begin?" "When did you?" "First moment that ever I set eyes on you. When I walked down-along, after seeing you and drinking the cider you poured out for me, I knocked my knees against the rocks, like a blind sheep, for I couldn't think of nothing but your lovely hair." "'Tis too pale. What d'you suppose I said to myself when I seed you first?" His arm had settled to her waist. She rubbed her ear against his cheek. "I said, 'I'll get that chap to take off them little funny three-cornered whiskers, if I can. They spoil the greatness of his beautiful, brown face." "Did you think that--honour bright?" "Honour bright, I did." "I'll chop 'em off afore I see you again!" He kissed her on the mouth. "I never thought I could be so happy as this, Daniel," she said. "'Tis almost too much," he admitted. "I doubt if any two was ever heart an' soul together like this afore. Feel me--fire--fire--burning like the bush in the wilderness, and yet not burning away! An' Him up above the clouds--to think it all out for us and plan it so loving and merciful! Bless God for His great goodness, darling Blue-eyes! This be all His work and His thought." She showed no religious enthusiasm. "Leave God till after," she said. "Go on burning now. Love me, hug me. There'll be black and blue bruises on my arms to-morrow." "I'll make you love God in a way you haven't come to yet, Sarah Jane." "Don't drag God in now," she said. "Talk to me, cuddle me. Tell me about what we're going to do when we'm married. Think of it all round--the astonishment--the fun. My father first--and then the castle-keeper. He'll have the flesh off your gert bones for this! Talk--talk--hug me tight and talk!" "I want to think--I want to think," he said. "Don't," she answered. "Feeling is better than thinking any day." They lived through an hour as though it had been a moment. They did not feel the gathering dusk; they did not hear the wind. The rain fell presently, and to Sarah it seemed to hiss as it touched Daniel's cheek. She leapt up at last. "Now us'll go straight home and tell father." "To-day--must we?" "In course. You needn't fear it. It won't surprise him over much." As they returned, he spoke again of the goodness of his watchful Creator, and moralized upon it.