‘I wish to see.’

She gently defended the arm, but he made it so much a matter of earnest to see the bruise of the old Election missile on her fair arm, that, with a pardonable soft blush, to avoid making much of it herself, she turned her sleeve a little above the wrist.  He took her hand.

‘It was for me!’

‘It was quite an accident:  no harm was intended.’

‘But it was in my cause—­for me!’

‘Indeed, Captain Beauchamp . . .’

‘Nevil, we say indoors.’

‘Nevil—­but is it not wiser to say what comes naturally to us?’

’Who told you to-day that you had brought me to life?  I am here to prove it true.  If I had paid attention to your advice, I should not have gone into the cottage of those poor creatures and taken away the fever.  I did no good there.  But the man’s wife said her husband had been ruined by voting for me:  and it was a point of honour to go in and sit with him.  You are not to have your hand back:  it is mine.  Don’t you remember, Jenny, how you gave me your arm on the road when I staggered; two days before the fever knocked me over?  Shall I tell you what I thought then?  I thought that he who could have you for a mate would have the bravest and helpfullest wife in all England.  And not a mere beauty, for you have good looks:  but you have the qualities I have been in search of.  Why do your eyes look so mournfully at me?  I am full of hope.  We’ll sail the Esperanza for the Winter:  you and I, and our best friend with us.  And you shall have a voice in the council, be sure.’

‘If you are two to one?’ Jenny said quickly, to keep from faltering.

Beauchamp pressed his mouth to the mark of the bruise on her arm.  He held her fast.

’I mean it, if you will join me, that you and I should rejoice the heart of the dear old man—­will you?  He has been brooding over your loneliness here if you are unmarried, ever since his recovery.  I owe my life to you, and every debt of gratitude to him.  Now, Jenny!’

’Oh!  Captain Beauchamp—­Nevil, if you will . . . if I may have my hand.  You exaggerate common kindness.  He loves you.  We both esteem you.’

‘But you don’t love me?’

’Indeed I have no fear that I shall be unable to support myself, if I am left alone.’

’But I want your help.  I wake from illness with my eyes open.  I must have your arm to lean on now and then.’

Jenny dropped a shivering sigh.

‘Uncle is long absent!’ she said.

Her hand was released.  Beauchamp inspected his watch.

‘He may have fallen!  He may be lying on the common!’

‘Oh!’ cried Jenny, ‘why did I let him go out without me?’

‘Let me have his lantern; I’ll go and search over the common.’

‘You must not go out,’ said she.

‘I must.  The old man may be perishing.’

‘It will be death to you . . .  Nevil!’