"Ah, that is playing on my curiosity to win me to rebellion."
"Not rebellion, Rena; only natural revolt against an unendurable tyranny."
"Do you think he will ever forgive?"
"He will, he must. He will have no right to be angry, from the moment he knows my secret."
"You torture me with your enigmas. Why will you not tell me?"
"To my wife, my wife only," he whispered, drawing her to his breast once again, and stifling her questions with kisses. "That secret is for none but my wife's ear: but, as I am a man of honour, Irene, you will stand free of all reproach for undutifulness. You can look Squire Bosworth in the face and say, 'I am no rebellious daughter;' and if he has a spark of generosity in him he shall take you to his heart as I do now, and give you love for love."
"He is not ungenerous," said Irene. "But I wish you would be less mysterious."
"There shall be no mysteries when I am your husband. And now, love, say that you will come. I have done my part towards your father as a man of honour. I have worked hard as journalist and politician for wife and home. Am I to be disappointed of my reward?"
"No, love," she answered, "you shall not be cheated. I will be your wife; even at the risk of never seeing my father's face again."
He thanked and blest her, in a rapture of love and gratitude; and then came a reiteration of his instructions. She was to creep out of the house before the servants were up; they rose at daybreak, but she must be before them. There was a glass door in the white parlour where they had all dined together—Lavendale, Herrick, the Squire, and his daughter—so often last year. This door opened into the garden, and was fastened with bolts which could be easily withdrawn; especially if Irene would but take the trouble to oil the fastenings over-night, to guard against any tell-tale scrooping of the iron. Then, cloaked and warmly clad, she was to skirt the shrubberies and cross the park to the wicket-gate. There Herrick and his coach would be in readiness; and all the rest was a question of fleet horses and quick relays, of which it was the lover's business to make sure over-night.