“If that is all,” he said, taking my hands suddenly into his, “you shall not leave me until you have promised.” “But--I----” Then he was very bold, and I should have been very angry, but was not. He looked coolly round, and finding that there was no one in sight, he drew me to him and kissed me. His arms were like steel bars around me, I could not possibly escape. After that there were no words which I could say. I was amazed at myself, but I was very happy. The twilight was falling upon the city when we walked once more through the little streets, and my veil was closely drawn to hide my wet eyes. My lover--I dared to call him that at last--was coming home with me, and for a few brief moments my footsteps seemed to be falling upon air. I allowed myself the luxury of forgetfulness; the load of anxiety which had seemed crushing had suddenly rolled away. But at the entrance to the close a little dark figure met us face to face, and my blood ran cold in my veins, for she lifted her veil, and my dream of happiness vanished into thin air. Her face was like the face of an evil spirit, yet she would have passed me without a word, but that I held out my hand and stopped her. “What are you doing here?” I asked. “What do you want?” She smiled at me with the malice of a fiend. “It was a little call,” she said, “which I was paying upon your father. He was unfortunately not at home. No matter, I shall call again; I shall call again and again until I see him. I am in no hurry to leave. Eastminster is such an interesting place!” Then my heart died away within me, and the light of my sudden happiness grew dim. She looked from one to the other of us, and her eyes were lit with a new fury. Some subtle instinct seemed to guide her to the truth. “May I congratulate you both?” she asked, with a sneer in her tone. “A little sudden, isn’t it?” We did not answer. I had no words, and Bruce remained grimly and contemptuously silent. She gathered up her skirts, and her eyes flashed an evil light upon us. “After all,” she exclaimed, “it is an admirable arrangement! How happy you both look! Don’t let me keep you! I shall call later on this evening.” She flitted away like a dark shadow and passed underneath the stone archway out of the close. I covered my face with my hands and moaned. It had come at last, then. All that I had done had been useless. I was face to face with despair. CHAPTER XXIX THE BREAKING OF THE STORM