A little groan came from the garret. It no sooner fell on Tessibel's ears than she scurried, nimble-footed, up the ladder. Poking her head through the hole in the ceiling, she peered around. It was very dark, and even straining her eyes, she could see nothing. "Andy!" she whispered. "Andy, dear!" "I air here, kid," murmured the dwarf from a dark corner. "Don't be worrin'," encouraged Tess, softly. "I air begun to love ye, Andy, an' you bet nobody durst touch ye. Whatever ye hear, be mum. Daddy and me'll take care of ye, an' God will too." Later she left the shanty in deep thought, and by the time she had wended her way to the ragged rocks to meet Frederick Graves, she had uttered many tense little prayers for the suffering dwarf in her attic. These rocks were a bower of delight to the sentimental girl. It was here in the gloom that in every expression of nature Tess heard Frederick's voice; his clear tones came swiftly on the wings of the wind, in the sonorous clap of the chimes as they spread their chant over the lake. She was now seated on a broad, grey rock-slab, bending slightly forward, listening for her lover's step. "Frederick!" she breathed in delight as a tall form loomed from the shadowy path. In another moment she felt herself gathered into strong arms, and for a while the boy and girl were silent in their mutual happiness. The lakeside was quiet except for the sound of the tumbling waves and the intermittent rumble of a train on the tracks above. Now and then, far back in the forest, an owl whoo-whooed in croaking tones, and in a nearby tree a family of baby birds twittered continuously in their sleep. All the daisies in the meadows, all the nodding buttercups in the fields, seemed to be blossoming in Tessibel's heart at one time. She was in Frederick's arms, and the whole world could offer her nothing more. "Tessibel, my little love," began Frederick, between caresses, "you remember what I begged you to consent to early in the spring?" Tess made a movement to sit up. "Ye mean--?" she stammered, confused. Frederick drew her close. "I want you to marry me right away," he murmured, entreatingly. The words were whispered in passionate sighing out of the darkness into her ear. Tess drew back a little. "Right away?" she repeated, gulping. "What do ye mean by right away, darlin'?... Now?" Again strong arms evidenced strong affection. "Yes--now," answered Frederick, earnestly. "You must! You must!... I can't be happy unless you do--Oh, Tessibel! Won't you, Tess?" Never had anything thrilled her as his halting insistence. "An' Daddy Skinner--air he to know?" she stammered, chokingly. "No, no!" "An'--yer mother?" "Well, not--not quite yet, dear." Two slender hands covered a scarlet face, and tears trickled between tense fingers. "Then I can't!" Tess caught her breath in a sob. "I jest can't! Oh, why couldn't Daddy know--an' yer mother, too?" Frederick strained her against his breast.