"I loved her in the usual way a shallow young man loves. She was pretty and coquettish when I was with her in Edinburgh, and her exterior drew me. I loved her merely for her beauty, never for her heart and beautiful nature, as I love you, dearest. It required months of misery to deepen my nature and make me appreciate a true woman, such as you are. Ours is one of those rare marriages that is made in heaven. Never be jealous of Maud Tedder, my own love; you alone possess my heart." "I know it, I feel it. All the same,--" she paused. "All the same----?" "I want you to tell me again that you love me." "I love you, little donkey." Elspeth threw her arms round his neck, and brought his lips down to her own. "I am a donkey--all the same, I am a woman who wants to be loved. I _am_ loved," this triumphantly, "but oh, how delicious it is to love and to be loved, Angus." "Elspeth!" They clasped hands and looked deep into one another's eyes; then the reaction came and both burst out laughing. "We are like a couple of children," said Herries, smiling, "merry children." "Why not? We have been sad for so long." "And foolish children." "Ah, my own, we have been too wise in the misery of the world. Look at your years of sorrow; look at my years of trouble. We have both been unlucky." "Mr. and Mrs. Jonah," said Angus, with a shrug, "well, darling, I think two bad lucks make one good one. Since we have been married the luck has changed." "In what way?" "I am free from a terrible charge, and you are my wife. Henceforth I truly believe that we will be the happiest and most fortunate couple in the wide world. Two negatives make an affirmative, so why shouldn't your bad luck and mine, when joined, as they now are, make one superlatively good one? What do you think?" "I think the same as you. Everything will go well now." "Hurrah," Angus shook her hands vigorously, "let us build castles in the air, and perhaps they will turn into bricks and mortar." Elspeth caught his spirit, and laughed also. "Well, then, we will learn who killed your uncle, and then you will get fifty thousand a year, upon which," she gave him a comical look, "we can manage to exist." "With due economy," said Herries gravely, "but we must not forget, my dearest, that should this great fortune come to us, we will have to hold it in trust for less fortunate people. There are many male and female Jonahs about, who will have to be helped." "I quite agree with you; but we must get the money first. Now that you are free, Angus, you can search for yourself." "I intend to; but in what direction can I search?" Elspeth thought for a few moments. "I fancy it would be best for you to return to the 'Marsh Inn,' and question Mrs. Narby." "Do you think that she knows the truth?" "I can't be sure; but she is an observant woman, and if you promise her a reward she would tell you of anything suspicious she might have seen."