“Oh,” said Grace, “I suppose it cost you an effort to be firm and I hope it did.  You needn’t be afraid, though.  When my father told me, I understood, and it won’t hurt to leave Tarnside; I’m anxious to get away.”

“My dear!” said Kit.  “Ashness has some charm and we will try to make it a proper home for you.”

“It is a home; I sometimes went to see your father—­I liked him so much, Kit.  One feels the old house has sheltered sincere men and women who loved each other and something they left haunts the quiet spot.  I don’t want you to alter it much.”

“You shall alter it as you like.  The only rule at Ashness will be what pleases you.”

“Now you’re very nice!  I’m going to be happy because I can be myself.  So far, I’ve been forced to be reserved.  You don’t really know me, Kit.”

“Perhaps that’s true,” Kit remarked.  “You’re wonderful, because there’s always some fresh charm to learn.  I thought I knew you before I went away, but when I came back I saw how foolish I was.  I wonder whether you knew I loved you then?”

Grace blushed.  “I think I knew, and felt cheated.”

“Why did you feel cheated?”

“Oh,” said Grace, “I liked you!  I was young and felt I was entitled to love a man who loved me, if I wanted, but couldn’t use my right.  Then, not long since, when you were so grave and just, I felt I had been cheated worse.”

“I see,” said Kit and came nearer the bench.  “I was cheated, too.  But look at me, dear, and I’ll try to tell you all I think.”

He told her with fire and passion and when he stopped, bending down to her, she put her arm round his neck.

“Now you’re ridiculously romantic, but you’re very charming, Kit,” she said.

CHAPTER XI

OSBORN’S SURRENDER

By degrees Osborn accepted his daughter’s choice philosophically.  Kit was not the son-in-law he had wanted, but he was forced to admit that the fellow jarred less than he had thought.  For one thing, he never reminded Osborn of the benefit he had conferred, and the latter noted that his country-house neighbors opened their doors to him.  They could not, of course, altogether ignore the man Grace had promised to marry, but Osborn soon had grounds for imagining that they liked Kit for himself.  The wedding had been fixed and Osborn, although not satisfied, was resigned.

In the meantime, it began to look as if the gloom that had long ruled at Tarnside was banished.  Mrs. Osborn’s reserve was less marked, she smiled, and her step was lighter.  Grace, too, had changed, and developed.  She had often been impatient but now was marked by a happy calm.  Osborn found her gentler and sometimes strangely compliant, although he felt he must make no rash demands.  The girl indulged him, but she could be firm.  Her new serenity had a charm.  Moreover, Gerald wrote cheerful letters and declared that he was making better progress than would have been possible for him at home.