"What do you mean by your stealing a march?"
"Well, you see she knows me as Hench, and hasn't the least idea that I am her cousin who inherits the property."
"What of that? You came here with the idea of masquerading."
"So I did. But I didn't intend to go too far."
"And you have?"
"Yes!"--another groan. "We went to the Grange this morning, and when I found myself alone in the garden with her I proposed to her."
"So she said to Aunt Emma."
"But, Jim, you told me that she had said nothing?"
"I did. It was a fib, I admit. But I wanted to hear your version of the proposal, Owain," said Vane shamelessly. "You didn't intend to go too far, nor did your cousin. But as you were swept off your feet by passion, so was she, as she admitted to Aunt Emma, with tears. Miss Evans intended to keep you at arm's length until she knew more about you. But this passion took you both off your feet, so there's no doubt of its being genuine on both sides."
"On my side, certainly. But on hers----?"