"It is," she answered passionately. "I am the curiosity. I am the freak. The townspeople take a pride in me, yes, just the same pride they took in her, and I find that pride more difficult to bear than all the aversion of the Pettifers. I too slink out early in the morning or late after night has fallen. And you"--the passion of bitterness died out of her voice, her hands opened and hung at her sides, a smile of tenderness shone on her face--"you come with me. You ride with me early. With you I learn to take no heed. You welcome me to your house. You speak to me as you spoke just now." Her voice broke and a cry of gladness escaped from her which went to Dick Hazlewood's heart. "Oh, you shall see me to my door. I'll not cross the meadow. I'll go round by the road." She stopped and drew a breath. "I'll tell you something." "What?" "It's rather good to be looked after. I know. It has never happened to me before. Yes, it's very good," and she drew out the words with a low laugh of happiness. "Stella!" he said, and at the mention of her name she caught her hands up to her heart. "Oh, thank you!" The hall-door was closed and all but one car had driven away when they turned the corner of the house and came out in the broad drive. They walked in the moonlight with a perfume of flowers in the air and the big yellow cups of the evening primroses gleaming on either side. They walked slowly. Stella knew that she should quicken her feet but she could not bring herself to do more than know it. She sought to take into her heart every tiniest detail of that walk so that in memory she might, years after, walk it again and so never be quite alone. They passed out through the great iron gates and turned into the lane. Here great elms overhung and now they walked in darkness, and now again were bathed in light. A twig snapped beneath her foot; even so small a thing she would remember. "We must hurry," she said. "We are doing all that we can," replied Dick. "It's a long way--this walk." "You feel it so?" said Stella, tempting him--oh, unwisely! But the spell of the hour and the place was upon her. "Yes," he answered her. "It's a long way in a man's life," and he drew close to her side. "No!" she cried with a sudden violence. But she was awake too late. "No, Dick, no," she repeated, but his arms were about her. "Stella, I want you. Oh, life's dull for a man without a woman; I can tell you," he exclaimed passionately. "There are others--plenty," she said, and tried to thrust him away. "Not for me," he rejoined, and he would not let her go. Her struggles ceased, she buried her face in his coat, her hands caught his shoulders, she stood trembling and shivering against him. "Stella," he whispered. "Stella!" He raised her face and bent to it. Then he straightened himself. "Not here!" he said.