'I shall have to go back now,' Mary said, and the softness of her voice contrasted strangely with the passion in his.
'I shall go with you,' Rob answered, 'and see your father.'
'No, no,' said Mary; 'we must say good-bye here, now.'
Rob turned on her with all the dourness of the Anguses in him.
'Good-bye,' he said, and left her. Mary put her hand to her heart, but he was already turning back.
'Oh,' she cried, 'do you not see that it is so much harder to me than to you?'
'Mary, my beloved,' Rob cried. She swayed in her saddle, and if he had not been there to catch her she would have fallen to the ground.
Rob heard a footstep at his side, and, looking up, saw Colonel Abinger. The old man's face was white, but there was a soft look in his eye, and he stooped to take Mary to his breast.
'No,' Rob said, with his teeth close, 'you can't have her. She's mine.'
'Yes,' the colonel said sadly; 'she's yours.'