"So I said. My father never replied to my letter save in sending a cablegram stating he was coming home in the _Dunoon Castle_. When he was at Southampton, he wrote, saying I was not to think of marrying you, and that he would tell me of his plans for my future when he returned to Wargrove. He decided to remain for a week in London, and yesterday he wired that he was coming home to-night. So you see, Allen," Eva rested her head on her lover's shoulder, "he will part us." "No!" cried Hill, rising and looking very tall and strong and determined, "he will never do that. What reason----" "My father is a man who will refuse to give his reason." "Not to me," rejoined the other hotly. "Mr. Strode will not dare to dismiss me in so easy and off-hand a fashion. I love you, Eva, and I marry you, whatever your father may say. Unless," he caught her hands as she rose, and stared deep into her eyes, "unless you leave me." "No! no! I never will do that, Allen. Come what may, I'll be true." Then followed an interlude of kisses, and afterwards the two, hand in hand, walked across the common on their way to Misery Castle. It was not seven o'clock, but the twilight was growing darker. "Do you know what your father's plans are?" asked Allen, as they stepped out on to the deserted and dusty road. "No. I know nothing save what I tell you. And my dream----" "Dearest, put the dream out of your head. If it is any comfort to you, I'll go to the Red Deeps to-night. Do you think I'll find a dead body there?" he asked, laughing. "Not if you go before nine o'clock. The dream was at nine last night." "But your father will be home at eight, Eva?" "I hope so," she murmured. "You are so foolishly superstitious," said Allen, pressing her arm which was within his own; "you dear little goose, don't you see that if your father comes to Misery Castle at eight, he can't possibly be lying dead in the Red Deeps at nine. When did you last hear from him, Eva?" "Yesterday morning. He wired that he would be down at eight this evening." "Well then, he was alive then, and is stopping in town on business as you said. He will come to Westhaven by the train arriving at six-thirty and will drive over." "The road passes the Red Deeps," insisted Eva. "How obstinate you are, Eva," said Allen, contracting his forehead; "I tell you what I'll do to set your mind at rest; you know he is alive now?" "Yes, I suppose so. I got that wire yesterday morning." "Well then, I'll set off to the Red Deeps at once, and will get there just at eight. I may meet Mr. Strode coming along in the fly, and if so I'll follow it back to Misery Castle, so as to see him safely home. If I don't, I'll go to the Red Deeps, and if any attack is made on him, I'll be there to give him a hand." "Thank you, Allen. I should be more at ease if you did that." "Then it shall be done," said Allen, kissing her, "but I feel that I am encouraging you in superstitious fancies." "My dream was so vivid."