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pretty well informed for the enterprise that lay before me。 I knew
the lair of the dragon … that which was just illuminated。 I knew
the bower of my Rosamond； and how excellently it was placed on the
ground…level； round the flank of the cottage and out of earshot of
her formidable aunt。 Nothing was left but to apply my knowledge。
I was then at the bottom of the garden； whether I had gone （Heaven
save the mark！） for warmth； that I might walk to and fro unheard
and keep myself from perishing。 The night had fallen still； the
wind ceased； the noise of the rain had much lightened； if it had
not stopped； and was succeeded by the dripping of the garden trees。
In the midst of this lull； and as I was already drawing near to the
cottage； I was startled by the sound of a window…sash screaming in
its channels； and a step or two beyond I became aware of a gush of
light upon the darkness。 It fell from Flora's window； which she
had flung open on the night； and where she now sat； roseate and
pensive； in the shine of two candles falling from behind； her
tresses deeply embowering and shading her； the suspended comb still
in one hand； the other idly clinging to the iron stanchions with
which the window was barred。
Keeping to the turf； and favoured by the darkness of the night and
the patter of the rain which was now returning； though without
wind； I approached until I could almost have touched her。 It
seemed a grossness of which I was incapable to break up her reverie
by speech。 I stood and drank her in with my eyes； how the light
made a glory in her hair； and （what I have always thought the most
ravishing thing in nature） how the planes ran into each other； and
were distinguished； and how the hues blended and varied； and were
shaded off； between the cheek and neck。 At first I was abashed：
she wore her beauty like an immediate halo of refinement； she
discouraged me like an angel； or what I suspect to be the next most
discouraging； a modern lady。 But as I continued to gaze； hope and
life returned to me； I forgot my timidity； I forgot the sickening
pack of wet clothes with which I stood burdened； I tingled with new
blood。
Still unconscious of my presence； still gazing before her upon the
illuminated image of the window； the straight shadows of the bars；
the glinting of pebbles on the path； and the impenetrable night on
the garden and the hills beyond it； she heaved a deep breath that
struck upon my heart like an appeal。
'Why does Miss Gilchrist sigh？' I whispered。 'Does she recall
absent friends？'
She turned her head swiftly in my direction； it was the only sign
of surprise she deigned to make。 At the same time I stepped into
the light and bowed profoundly。
'You！' she said。 'Here？'
'Yes； I am here；' I replied。 'I have come very far； it may be a
hundred and fifty leagues； to see you。 I have waited all this
night in your garden。 Will Miss Gilchrist not offer her hand … to
a friend in trouble？'
She extended it between the bars； and I dropped upon one knee on
the wet path and kissed it twice。 At the second it was withdrawn
suddenly； methought with more of a start than she had hitherto
displayed。 I regained my former attitude； and we were both silent
awhile。 My timidity returned on me tenfold。 I looked in her face
for any signals of anger； and seeing her eyes to waver and fall
aside from mine； augured that all was well。
'You must have been mad to come here！' she broke out。 'Of all
places under heaven this is no place for you to come。 And I was
just thinking you were safe in France！'
'You were thinking of me！' I cried。
'Mr。 St。 Ives； you cannot understand your danger；' she replied。 'I
am sure of it； and yet I cannot find it in my heart to tell you。
O； be persuaded； and go！'
'I believe I know the worst。 But I was never one to set an undue
value on life； the life that we share with beasts。 My university
has been in the wars； not a famous place of education； but one
where a man learns to carry his life in his hand as lightly as a
glove； and for his lady or his honour to lay it as lightly down。
You appeal to my fears； and you do wrong。 I have come to Scotland
with my eyes quite open to see you and to speak with you … it may
be for the last time。 With my eyes quite open； I say； and if I did
not hesitate at the beginning do you think that I would draw back
now？'
'You do not know！' she cried； with rising agitation。 'This
country； even this garden； is death to you。 They all believe it； I
am the only one that does not。 If they hear you now； if they heard
a whisper … I dread to think of it。 O； go； go this instant。 It is
my prayer。'
'Dear lady； do not refuse me what I have come so far to seek； and
remember that out of all the millions in England there is no other
but yourself in whom I can dare confide。 I have all the world
against me； you are my only ally； and as I have to speak； you have
to listen。 All is true that they say of me； and all of it false at
the same time。 I did kill this man Goguelat … it was that you
meant？'
She mutely signed to me that it was； she had become deadly pale。
'But I killed him in fair fight。 Till then； I had never taken a
life unless in battle； which is my trade。 But I was grateful； I
was on fire with gratitude； to one who had been good to me； who had
been better to me than I could have dreamed of an angel； who had
come into the darkness of my prison like sunrise。 The man Goguelat
insulted her。 O； he had insulted me often； it was his favourite
pastime； and he might insult me as he pleased … for who was I？ But
with that lady it was different。 I could never forgive myself if I
had let it pass。 And we fought； and he fell； and I have no
remorse。'
I waited anxiously for some reply。 The worst was now out； and I
knew that she had heard of it before； but it was impossible for me
to go on with my narrative without some shadow of encouragement。
'You blame me？'
'No； not at all。 It is a point I cannot speak on … I am only a
girl。 I am sure you were in the right： I have always said so … to
Ronald。 Not； of course； to my aunt。 I am afraid I let her speak
as she will。 You must not think me a disloyal friend； and even
with the Major … I did not tell you he had become quite a friend of
ours … Major Chevenix； I mean … he has taken such a fancy to
Ronald！ It was he that brought the news to us of that hateful
Clausel being captured； and all that he was saying。 I was
indignant with him。 I said … I dare say I said too much … and I
must say he was very good…natured。 He said； 〃You and I； who are
his friends； KNOW that Champdivers is innocent。 But what is the
use of saying it？〃 All this was in the corner of the room in what
they call an aside。 And then he said； 〃Give me a chance to speak
to you in private； I have much to tell you。〃 And he did。 And told
me just what you did … that it was an affair of honour； and no
blame attached to you。 O； I must say I like that Major Chevenix！'
At this I was seized with a great pang of jealousy。 I remembered
the first time that he had seen her； the interest that he seemed
immediately to conceive； and I could not but admire the dog for the
use he had been ingenious enough to make of our acquaintance in
order to supplant me。 All is fair in love and war。 For all that；
I was now no less anxious to do the speaking myself than I had been
before to hear Flora。 At least； I could keep clear of the hateful
image of Major Chevenix。 Accordingly I burst at once on the
narrative of my adventures。 It was the same as you have read； but
briefer； and told with a very different purpose。 Now every
incident had a particular bearing； every by…way branched off to
Rome … and that was Flora。
When I had begun to speak I had kneeled upon the gravel withoutside
the low window； rested my arms upon the sill； and lowered my voice
to the most confidential whisper。 Flora herself must kneel upon
the other side； and this brought our heads upon a level with only
the bars between us。 So placed； so separated； it seemed that our
proximity； and the continuous and low sounds of my pleading voice；
worked progressively and powerfully on her heart； and perhaps not
less so on my own。 For these spells are double…edged。 The silly
birds may be charmed with the pipe of the fowler； which is but a
tube of reeds。 Not so with a bird of our own feather！ As I went
on； and my resolve strengthened； and my voice found new
modulations； and our faces were drawn closer to the bars and to
each other； not only she； but I； succumbed to the fascination； and
were kindled by the charm。 We make love； and thereby ourselves
fall the deeper in it。 It is with the heart only that one captures
a heart。
'And n