At any rate I took my chance. I'd seen him some time before, and
then I saw you."
"If I'm to be watched about in that way," said Mary angrily, "I
won't go out at all."
"Of course I want to see you. Why shouldn't I? I'm all fair and
above board;--ain't I? Your father and mother know all about it. It
isn't as though I were doing anything clandestine." He paused for a
reply, but Mary walked on in silence. She knew quite well that he
was warranted in seeking her, and that nothing but a very positive
decision on her part could put an end to his courtship. At the
present moment she was inclined to be very positive, but he had
hardly as yet given her an opportunity of speaking out. "I think
you know, Mary, what it is that I want." They were now at a rough
stile which enabled him to come close up to her and help her. She
tripped over the stile with a light step and again walked on
rapidly. The field they were in enabled him to get up to her side,
and now if ever was his opportunity. It was a long straggling
meadow which he knew well, with the Dill running by it all the
way,--or rather two meadows with an open space where there had once
been a gate. He had ridden through the gap a score of times, and
knew that at the further side of the second meadow they would come
upon the high road. The fields were certainly much better for his
purpose than the road.
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