"And whatever I am—you'll marry me?"
"Yes. Whatever—you—are——"
While he smiled down at her she straightened in his arms and gently released herself, glancing guiltily at the clock.
"I—I must be going now," she whispered.
And so through the quiet forest they went to Black Rock village, hand in hand.
CHAPTER XVI
IDENTIFICATION
The sudden and unexpected arrival of Miss Peggy McGuire upon the scene had been annoying. That young person was, as Peter knew, a soulless little snob and materialist with a mind which would not be slow to put the worst possible construction upon the situation. Of course as matters stood at the close of that extraordinary evening of self-revelations, it did not matter a great deal what Peggy McGuire thought or said or did, for nothing could hurt Beth now. The Grand Duke Peter Nicholaevitch had capitulated and Peter Nichols gloried in his victory over inherited tradition. He had no regrets and he had made his choice, for Beth was what he wanted. She completed him. She was effulgent,—even in homespun. A little tinsel more or less could make no difference in Beth. Those of his own class who would not accept her might go hang for all he cared.