‘Yes, that is quite true, there are so few nice fellows,’ said Gladys innocently.  ’Don’t you think you might get a nice girl to go with you, if you asked her properly?’

Then Walter flashed a sad, proud look at her—­a look which Gladys fearlessly met, and thought at that very moment that she had never seen him look so well, so handsome, so worthy of regard.  Sorrow had wrought her perfect work in him, and he had emerged from the shadow of blighted hope and frustrated ambition a gentler, humbler, ay, and a holier man than he had yet been.  Suddenly that look of sad, quiet wonder, which had a touch of reproach in it, quite broke Gladys down, and she made no effort to stem the tears which might make him sad or glad, she did not care.

‘Gladys,’ he began hurriedly, ’it is more than man is fit to bear, to see these tears.  If they mean nothing more than a natural regret at parting from one whom circumstances have strangely thrown in your way, perhaps too often, tell me so, and I shall thank you, even for that kindly regret; but if they mean that I may come back some day—­worthier, perhaps, than I am to-day’—­

‘That day will never come,’ broke in Gladys quietly.  ’But if you will take me to Australia with you, Walter, I am ready to go this very day.’

His face grew dusky red, his eyes shone, he looked at her as if he sought to read her soul.

’Do you know what you are saying, Gladys?  If you go, it can only be in one way—­as my wife.’

‘Well?’

She took a long breath, but was allowed to say no more until a long time after, when she raised her face from her lover’s breast, and demanded that he should take her home.

‘It is an awful thing we have done, Gladys,’ he said, touching her dear head for the twentieth time, and looking down into her eyes, which were luminous with the light of love,—­’an awful thing for me, at least.  We shall have to flee the country, and they will say I have abducted the heiress of Bourhill.’

’Oh, do!  Run off with me, as the Red Reiver and all these nice, interesting sort of people used to do long ago.  Let us abscond, and not tell a single living soul, except the faithful Teen.’

But Walter shook his head.

’It is what I should like to do above everything, but I must resist the temptation.  No, my darling; for your sake, everything must be most scrupulously conventional, if a little hurried.  I shall pay your guardian a visit to-morrow morning, which will somewhat astonish him.’

Gladys looked at him with a sudden access of admiration.  To hear him speak in that calm, masterful tone pleased her as nothing else could have done.

’But you won’t let them frighten you, and abscond without me?  That would be too mean,’ she said saucily.

Walter made no verbal reply, and so, hand in hand, they turned to leave the moonlit woods, and there was a look on the face of Walter such as you see on the faces of reverent worshippers who have found rest and peace to their souls.