’Then his wishes are not mine, Thomas.  Also, though duty be strong, it is not strong enough to force a woman to a marriage for which she has no liking.  Yet it may prove strong enough to keep a woman from a marriage for which her heart pleads—­perhaps, also, it should have been strong enough to hold me back from the telling of my love.’

’No, Lily, the love itself is much, and though it should bring no fruit, still it is something to have won it for ever and a day.’

’You are very young to talk thus, Thomas.  I am also young, I know, but we women ripen quicker.  Perhaps all this is but a boy’s fancy, to pass with boyhood.’

’It will never pass, Lily.  They say that our first loves are the longest, and that which is sown in youth will flourish in our age.  Listen, Lily; I have my place to make in the world, and it may take a time in the making, and I ask one promise of you, though perhaps it is a selfish thing to seek.  I ask of you that you will be faithful to me, and come fair weather or foul, will wed no other man till you know me dead.’

’It is something to promise, Thomas, for with time come changes.  Still I am so sure of myself that I promise—­nay I swear it.  Of you I cannot be sure, but things are so with us women that we must risk all upon a throw, and if we lose, good-bye to happiness.’

Then we talked on, and I cannot remember what we said, though these words that I have written down remain in my mind, partly because of their own weight, and in part because of all that came about in the after years.

And at last I knew that I must go, though we were sad enough at parting.  So I took her in my arms and kissed her so closely that some blood from my wound ran down her white attire.  But as we embraced I chanced to look up, and saw a sight that frightened me enough.  For there, not five paces from us, stood Squire Bozard, Lily’s father, watching all, and his face wore no smile.

He had been riding by a bridle-path to the watering ford, and seeing a couple trespassing beneath the oaks, dismounted from his horse to hunt them away.  Not till he was quite near did he know whom he came to hunt, and then he stood still in astonishment.  Lily and I drew slowly apart and looked at him.  He was a short stout man, with a red face and stern grey eyes, that seemed to be starting from his head with anger.  For a while he could not speak, but when he began at length the words came fast enough.  All that he said I forget, but the upshot of it was that he desired to know what my business was with his daughter.  I waited till he was out of breath, then answered him that Lily and I loved each other well, and were plighting our troth.

‘Is this so, daughter?’ he asked.

‘It is so, my father,’ she answered boldly.

Then he broke out swearing.  ‘You light minx,’ he said, ’you shall be whipped and kept cool on bread and water in your chamber.  And for you, my half-bred Spanish cockerel, know once and for all that this maid is for your betters.  How dare you come wooing my daughter, you empty pill-box, who have not two silver pennies to rattle in your pouch!  Go win fortune and a name before you dare to look up to such as she.’