"Will you come out with me?" I said. "Shall we go up on the Downs, and will you tell me there the whole story from beginning to end over again?" He smiled and said, in his bright way: "All right, little Heather." I flew upstairs. Aunt Penelope was moving about in her room, but I would not go to her. I felt somehow that I could not meet her just yet, and she, dear old thing, must have guessed my feelings, for she did not attempt to trouble me. I put on my hat and jacket, snatched up my gloves, and ran downstairs. Vernon was waiting for me. How tall he was, and broad, and how splendidly he carried himself! "Oh, Vernon," I said, looking into his face, "I am so proud that you are a soldier!" He laughed. "Thank you very much indeed, little Heather," he said. When we got out he drew my hand through his arm, and we went up to the beautiful Downs. We sat on the heather and he told me the story over again; I took it in much better this time. When it was quite finished I said: [Illustration: "We sat on the heather and he told me the story over again."] "And father--what is to become of father?" "I'm afraid he'll have to go on living with Lady Helen," was Vernon's answer. But I shook my head. "No," I said; "not at all. I have a better scheme than that. Lady Helen is very much frightened, isn't she, Vernon?" "A 'blue funk' doesn't even describe her," replied Vernon. "Well, then," I said, "I have a plan in my head. You and I will go up to London to-morrow." "I am quite agreeable, Heather--that is, if it causes you to hurry on our wedding day." "Oh, there's time enough for our wedding day," I said. "We mustn't be selfish, you know, Vernon." "Selfish? By Jove!" he exclaimed. "Little you know about selfishness when you accuse me of it." "Oh, Vernon," I said, "I'm just so happy I scarcely know what to do. But because I am so happy I don't want the one I love best in all the world after yourself to be out in the cold." "What do you mean by that, Heather dear?" "Just what I say. I don't want to leave my own darling father absolutely miserable." "Jove! you're right there. But what can you do? You can't part a man from his lawful wife." "No more I can--that's quite true; but I do want to see him and--I must see Lady Helen, too. Vernon, you'll help me, won't you?" "By all means," he answered. "But now, let us talk of ourselves. How soon do you think we can be married--in a fortnight? Surely a fortnight would be long enough for any reasonable girl." "I am by no means certain of that," I replied. "I will marry you, Vernon, as soon as ever I can put other matters right."