But George was not going to take this quietly. Saying nothing, he left the room and made the best of his way to Trevlyn Hold. The rooms seemed deserted. At length he found Maude in the schoolroom, correcting exercises, and shedding a few quiet tears. After they had dressed for the visit, Octavia had placed her veto upon it, and Emily and Edith had retired to bed in vexation. Miss Diana was spending the evening out with Mrs. Chattaway, and Octave had had it all her own way. "I have come for you, Maude," said George. Maude's heart beat with anticipation. "I don't know whether I may dare to go," she said, glancing shyly at him. "Has anyone except Octave forbidden you?" "Only Octave." Lying on a chair, George saw a bonnet and a cloak which he recognised as Maude's. In point of fact, she had thrown them off when forbidden the visit by Miss Chattaway. His only answer was to fold the cloak around her. And she put on the bonnet, and went out with him, shocked at her own temerity, but unable to resist the temptation. "You are trembling," he cried, drawing her closer to him as he bent his head. "I am afraid of Octave. I know she will be so angry. What if she should meet me with angry words?" "Then--Maude--you will give me leave to answer her?" "Yes. Oh yes." "It will involve more than you think," said George, laughing at her eager tones. "I must tell her, if necessary, that I have a right to defend you." Maude stopped in her surprise, and half drew her arm from his as she looked up at him in the starlight. His pointed tone stirred all the pulses of her heart. "You cannot have mistaken me, Maude, this long time past," he quietly said. "If I have not spoken to you more openly; if I do not yet speak out to the world, it is that I see at present little prospect before us. I would prefer not to speak to others until that is more assured." Maude, in spite of the intense happiness which was rising within her, felt half sick with fear. What of the powers at Trevlyn Hold? "Yes, there might be opposition," said George, divining her thoughts, "and the result--great unpleasantness altogether. I am independent enough to defy them, but you are not, Maude. For that reason I will not speak if I can help it. I hope Octave will not provoke me to excess." Maude started as a thought flashed over her, and she looked up at George, a terrified expression in her face. "You _must not_ speak, George; you must not, for my sake. Were Octave only to suspect this, she----" "Might treat you to a bowl of poison--after the stage fashion of the good old days," he laughed. "Maude, do you think I have been blind? I understand." "You will be silent, then?" "Yes," he answered, after a pause. "For the present."