"Elsie dear," he began, drawing her down on a stone at his side, "I
have something very serious which I wish to talk to you about."
"And why do you always want to talk so solemnly to me, Maurice?"
"Now be a brave little girl, Elsie, and don't be frightened."
"And is it, then, so very dreadful?" she queried, trembling a little
at the gravity of his manner rather than his words.
"No, it isn't dreadful at all. But it is of great importance, and
therefore we must both be serious. Now, Elsie dear, tell me honestly
if you love me enough to become my wife now, at once."
The girl cast timid glances around her, as if to make sure that they
were unobserved. Then she laid her arms round his neck, gazed for a
moment with that trustful look of hers into his eyes, and put up her
lips to be kissed.
"That is no answer, my dear," he said, smiling, but responding readily
to the invitation. "I wish to know if you care enough for me to go
away with me to a foreign land, and live with me always as my wife."
"I cannot live anywhere without you," she murmured, sadly.
"And then you will do as I wish?"
"But it will take three weeks to have the banns published, and you
know father would never allow that."
"That is the very reason why I wish you to do without his consent.
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