Joel gripped Lucy's hand with a sudden excess of feeling.
"I'll never part with Forest Hall," he said, as though he saw in his mind's eye someone who wanted to take it from him. "I'll never sell the old place. If I go down into ruins, it shall go down into ruins with me. We'll fall together."
"Don't talk so fiercely, Joel," replied Lucy, gently smoothing his fingers to take the strain out of their grip. "Forest Hall will some day be refurnished from cellar to garret, and you and I will live there like a pair of cooing doves. Haven't you told me so many a time?"
"Of course, Lucy," he said, relaxing.
They walked on again, and near the outskirts of the forest met Peter and his bear.
"Hulloa, what have you there?" said Joel, while the girl drew back, not caring to be caught alone with him at this time of the night.
"A lap-dog for you, Joel."
"The deuce have you! And what do you expect me to do with it?"
"Give it housing room. You've got an empty shed, haven't you?"
"Two or three. You're a rum chap!" and Joel laughed, for he could never keep his resentment in his friend's breezy presence.