"I will do it if you wish it; I have not done it yet. I was going to give Fox the gloves; I did not desire to see Julian. You must understand that my father has been speaking to me to-day about Julian--it seems he has set his mind on making a pair of us. I do not know what Julian thinks, but I know my own mind, that this is not my taste. After he had spoken to me about her, I could not go on direct to her house and see her. My father would think that I gave in to him, and--I should have been uneasy myself." Urith said nothing, she was looking down at the tossing, thundering torrent far below. "I never cared much for Julian," continued Anthony, "and after yesterday I like her less." "Why so?" Urith looked up and met his eyes. "Why so? Because I have seen you. If I have to go through life with any one, I will take you in the saddle behind me--no one else." Urith trembled more than before; a convulsive, irrepressible emotion had come over her. Sometimes it happens when the heavens are opened with a sudden flare of near and dazzling lightning, that those who have looked up have been struck with blindness. So was it now; Urith had seen a heaven of happiness, a glory of love--a new and wondrous world open before her, such as she had never dreamed of, of which no foretaste had ever been accorded her, and it left her speechless, with a cloud before her eyes, and giddy, so that she held out her hands gropingly to catch the rock; it was unnecessary, the strong arm of Anthony held her from falling. The young man paused for an answer. "Well!" said he. "Have you no word?" None; she moved her lips, she could not speak. "Come," said he, after another pause, "they who ride pillion ride thus--the man has his leather belt, and to that the woman holds. Urith, if we are to ride together on life's road, lay hold of my belt." She held out her hands, still gropingly. "Stay!" she said, suddenly recovering herself with a start. "You forgot; you do not know me. Look at my hands, they are still torn; I did that in one of my fits of rage. Do you not fear to take me when I go, when crossed, into such mad passion as these hands show?" Anthony laughed. "I fear! I!" Then she put her right hand to lay hold of his girdle, but caught and drew out the gloves. "I have these again!" she exclaimed. "Even these gloves cast at me in defiance. Well, it matters not now. I refused to take them up, yet I could not shake them off; now I take them and keep them. I accept the challenge." She grasped him firmly by the girdle, and with the other hand thrust the gloves into her bosom. "I do not understand you," said Anthony. "There is no need that you should." Then he caught her up in his arms, with a shout of exultation, and held her for a moment hanging over the awful gulf beneath. She looked him steadily in the eyes. She doubted neither his strength to hold her, nor his love. Then he drew her to him and kissed her.