Her hand was taken tighter in his grasp. The edge of his sombrero touched the top of her head, and she felt herself being taken under its broad brim with a sense of everlasting shelter. And just then they were interrupted. A visitor to the court-room came up the path--unnoticed till he was almost past. At the same time there was a sound of footsteps coming down the courthouse steps. It was the Professor. Seeing which Steve released her hand and assumed a more conventional public attitude until this particular spectator should be gone. The Professor passed. He kept on his way down the path and did not look back; whereupon Steve took possession of her hand again. It was such a fine delicate hand to him--so small and tender a hand to have to grapple with things of this rough world; he looked at it thoughtfully and hefted it as so much precious property in his own. "I am mighty glad you said that," he offered. "I was afraid you might have to leave. That's why I wanted you to pass." "And that's why I _wanted_ to pass, too," she said. Now that the coast was clear they resumed their confessions. At times they sat in silence, holding hands. As the time approached when they ought to start back, they were reminded to make more definite plans. He would take her to Merrill, leave the horse and buggy there, and come home to Thornton on the night train. On the following day he would come down with one of his own horses to get the buggy and she could ride up "home" with him and catch the early train back. "I want you to come up right away and look over the house and get acquainted with the neighborhood." "Are we going to have nice neighbors?" she asked. "First-class. A mighty fine lot of folks. They 'll all put themselves out to accommodate you. I think you 'll like them." "Oh, I know I shall," she answered. "And I 'll have something I want to give you, too. And we can talk things over and make up our minds about the date. I don't see any use in waiting a long time, do you?" "Well--no; not too long. But of course there are quite a number of things that need to be done first." "Yes--of course," he mused. "Quite a number of things that have to be done. And there 's the license to get, too," looking up suddenly at the court-house. "What!--right now?" "We might as well get it while we 're right here, don't you think? I might have to come out here after it anyway--and maybe the Comanche would be up and on a rampage. Here we are right now. And there's the court-house." "It does seem the most sensible way--of course. You had better do whatever you think best." Upon receiving this commission he arose and proceeded for the license. As he set foot upon the court-house steps he paused and looked back at her. He was straight as a ramrod; there was self-confidence in his carriage and pride in his mien. "I 'll bet ten dollars _I 'll_ pass," he said. CHAPTER XII