“I am much more fitted to be ruled than to rule, Mr. Saltram,” she said.  “I am utterly inexperienced in the world, you know, and Mr. Fenton is my superior in every way.”

“Your superior in years, I know, but in what else?”

“In everything else.  In intellect and judgment, as well as in knowledge of the world.  You could never imagine what a quiet changeless life I have led.”

“Your intellect is so much the clearer for that, I think.  It has not been disturbed by all the narrow petty influences of a life spent in what is called ‘society.’”

Before they left the house, Gilbert and the Captain were obliged to promise to dine at Heatherly next day, very much to the secret distaste of the former, who must thus lose an evening with Marian, but who was ashamed to reveal his hopeless condition by a persistent refusal.  Captain Sedgewick begged John Saltram to choose an early day for dining at the cottage, and Gilbert gave him a general invitation to Lidford House.

These matters being settled, they departed, accompanied by Mr. Saltram, who proposed to walk as far as the wood with them, and who extended his walk still farther, only leaving them at the gate of the Captain’s modest domain.  The conversation was general throughout the way back; and they all found plenty to talk about, as they loitered slowly on among the waving shadows of the trees flickering darkly on the winding path by which they went.  Gilbert lingered outside the gate after Marian and her uncle had gone into the cottage—­he was so eager to hear his friend praise the girl he loved.

“Well, John?” he asked.

“Well, dear old boy, she is all that is beautiful and charming, and I can only congratulate you upon your choice.  Miss Nowell’s perfection is a subject about which there cannot be two opinions.”

“And you think she loves me, Jack?”

“Do I think she loves you?  Why, surely, Gil, that is not a question upon which you want another man’s judgment?”

“No, of course not, but one is never tired of receiving the assurance of that fact.  And you could see by her way of speaking about me——­”

“She spoke of you in the prettiest manner possible.  She seems to consider you quite a superior being.”

“Dear girl, she is so good and simple-hearted.  Do you know, Jack, I feel as if I could never be sufficiently grateful to Providence for my happiness in having won such an angel.”

“Well, you certainly have reason to consider yourself a very lucky fellow; but I doubt if any man ever deserved good fortune better than you do, Gilbert.  And now, good-bye.  It’s getting unconscionably late, and I shall scarcely get back in time to change my clothes for dinner.  We spend all our evenings in pious devotion to billiards, with a rubber or two, or a little lansquenet towards the small hours.  Don’t forget your engagement to-morrow; good-bye.”