“Grace,” he said appealingly, “I’m afraid you don’t understand.  But when you must give up so much I durst not hide the drawbacks.  Besides, it’s agreed that I must not urge you.”

She studied him for a moment.  “I do understand,” she said, and then turned to Osborn.  “I suppose you are trying to guard me, but I am not afraid.  One gets tired of pretense and secret economy, and forced idleness has not much charm.  Well, if Mr. Askew, knowing what he knows about us, is willing to run the risk—­”

“Grace!” said Kit, moving forward, but she stopped him with a proud gesture.

“There is a risk.  I think we shall both need courage, but if you are willing I need not hesitate.  I will try to make a good farmer’s wife.”

She turned and went away, and the blood came into Kit’s face as he looked at Osborn.

“I have played fair, but it was hard.  Now you have heard her answer, I’m at liberty to plead my cause.”

Osborn said nothing, but his wife gave Kit a friendly smile and he went off with a resolute step in pursuit of Grace.  He came up with her in a shrubbery, but it looked as if she did not hear him, for her head was bent.

“Grace,” he said, putting his hand on her arm.  “I’m embarrassed and, in a way, ashamed.”

She turned and confronted him with her wonted calm.  “I don’t see why you are ashamed.  You were just—­I think I mean quite impartial.  You wanted me to weigh things and would have been resigned if I had found the drawbacks too much.”

“It wasn’t as easy as you think,” said Kit grimly.  “In fact, I was burning with anger and suspense.  But, you see, I had promised your father—­”

“Yes,” said Grace; “that was plain.  You were firm when you thought I might be forced to marry Thorn, and when father agreed not to use his influence, I suppose you could not use yours.  Well, I’m glad you were angry; it was human, and your scrupulous fairness was not flattering.”  She paused and, to Kit’s relief, gave him a smile.  “After all, it would not have hurt to be urged to marry the man I did like.”

“You mean me?” said Kit and boldly took her in his arms.

She drew back from him, blushing, after a few moments, but Kit was content.  There was something fascinatingly elusive about Grace and he could wait.  They went on quietly down the path until they came to a bench in a shady nook.  Kit leaned against a tree and Grace sat down.

“Kit,” she said, “I didn’t know you were rich.  It really doesn’t matter, but I’m glad I fell in love with you when I didn’t know.”

“Then, you were in love with me?”

She smiled.  “Of course!  I must have been, when I came to you because I was afraid of Thorn.  Love gave me confidence; I knew you would help.  In a way, I did an extravagant thing, because you were not really like a lover at all.”

“The control I used often hurt,” said Kit.  “I was afraid I might alarm and lose you; it was much to see you now and then.”  He paused, feeling there was something to be said that must be said now.  “However, about Ashness—­”