"Or you could not have been his daughter. Full of fancies, indeed!" And Kingsley turned his head in the direction of the caravan. "Surely this is the strangest that ever entered the head of man! A gentleman and a scholar--for he is both, Nansie, and I suppose it was partly through your breeding that I was drawn to you--to go wandering through the land with his daughter, as though they belonged to the lost tribes! But there is an odd pleasantry about it that tickles one, after all." "You would enjoy it, Kingsley," said Nansie, with a delicious laugh, nestling close to him; "it has really been delightful." "Ah, you said that last night, and I asked you, in surprise, how it could have been, without me?" "And I did not have wit enough to answer you properly. Think of the hour! I was scarcely half awake. And Kingsley, having the fullest trust in you, which nothing ever can shake, you would not wish me to be unhappy even when we are parted. I can think of you in a happy mood when you are not with me, if only by looking forward to the time when we shall always be together. It will be soon, will it not?" "It must, it shall, either way," he replied; "but I do not think I was wrong in asking you to wait a little while." "You have done everything for the best, so far as I am concerned-- But for yourself!" Nansie paused and sighed. "But for myself," he said, taking up her words, "I have done that which is happiest and best, and that which falls to the lot of few men." "Ah, Kingsley?" she said, hiding her face on his shoulder. "I have won a faithful heart. What more could I desire?" "It is sweet to hear you say so; but if your father should be angry--" "What then? We are young and strong and willing, and shall be able to manage. I have friends who will give me a helping hand, as I would give them were our places changed. New men spring up every day, Nansie; the ladder is full of them, rising higher and higher. Why should I not be one of them? Why should I not be fortunate--in money, I mean; I am content with everything else--as my father was? When he was my age he had little more than I have. See what he is now. A power, mixing with those who bear historic names. And there are others as he is. The old ranks are widening, new men creep in, hold their heads high, and occupy positions of power and profit. The question will presently be, who are the masters? No, no, Nansie, I don't despair. I should not be worthy of you if I did. What ennobles a man? Rank? Hardly. He can prove himself worthy of it--that is all; then he may consider himself truly distinguished. Rank is mortal. Love is immortal. Ask the poets. Not that they know much better than any one else. After all, it is the heart that should be followed." "I have followed mine," said Nansie, looking fondly at him.