“Since that time,” I went on, “your father has compromised me.  I am in some danger, not much, from the law.  I have no prospects that are not of the most doubtful kind; and I have no excuse for asking you to share them, except that I have fallen into my present misfortune through trying to discover the obstacle that kept us apart.  If there is any protection in the world that you can turn to, less doubtful than mine, I suppose I ought to say no more, and leave the house.  But if there should be none, surely I am not so very selfish in asking you to take your chance with me?  I honestly believe that I shall have little difficulty, with ordinary caution, in escaping from pursuit, and finding a safe home somewhere to begin life in again with new interests.  Will you share it with me, Alicia?  I can try no fresh persuasions—–­I have no right, perhaps, in my present situation to have addressed so many to you already.”

Her other arm stole round my neck; she laid her cheek against mine, and whispered—­

“Be kind to me, Frank—­I have nobody in the world who loves me but you!”

I felt her tears on my face; my own eyes moistened as I tried to answer her.  We sat for some minutes in perfect silence—­without moving, without a thought beyond the moment.  The rising of the wind, and the splashing of the rain outside were the first sounds that stirred me into action again.

I summoned my resolution, rose from the sofa, and in a few hasty words told Alicia what I proposed for the next day, and mentioned the hour at which I would come in the morning.  As I had anticipated, she seemed relieved and reassured at the prospect even of such slight sanction and encouragement, on the part of another woman, as would be implied by the companionship of Mrs. Baggs on the journey to Scotland.

The next and last difficulty I had to encounter was necessarily connected with her father.  He had never been very affectionate; and he was now, for aught she or I knew to the contrary, parted from her forever.  Still, the instinctive recognition of his position made her shrink, at the last moment, when she spoke of him, and thought of the serious nature of her engagement with me.  After some vain arguing and remonstrating, I contrived to quiet her scruples, by promising that an address should be left at Crickgelly, to which any second letter that might arrive from the doctor could be forwarded.  When I saw that this prospect of being able to communicate with him, if he wrote or wished to see her, had sufficiently composed her mind, I left the drawing-room.  It was vitally important that I should get back to the inn and make the necessary arrangements for our departure the next morning, before the primitive people of the place had retired to bed.

As I passed the back parlor door on my way out, I heard the voice of Mrs. Baggs raised indignantly.  The words “bottle!” “audacity!” and “nerves!” reached my ear disjointedly.  I called out “Good-by! till to-morrow;” heard a responsive groan of disgust; then opened the front door, and plunged out into the dark and rainy night.