She drew him back softly. The two advancing figures were so very near now that their words could be heard. It was Kate's soft voice that was speaking.
"Patience, dear," she was saying; "patience a little longer yet."
"Patience!" cried the man, passionately. "Haven't I been patient? Haven't I waited and waited, eating my heart out in solitude, and loneliness, and misery? But for your love, Kate, your undying love and faith in me—I should long ago have gone mad!"
They passed out of hearing with the last words. Reginald Stanford stood petrified; even Rose was desperately startled by the desperate words.
"Take me away, Reginald," she said trembling. "Oh, let us go before they come back."
Her voice aroused him, and he looked down at her with a face as white as the frozen snow.
"You heard him?" he said. "You heard her? What does it mean?"
"I don't know. I am frightened. Oh, let us go!"
Too late! Kate and her companion had reached the end of the tamarack walk, and were returning. As they drew near, she was speaking; again the two listeners in the darkness heard her words.
"Don't despair," she said earnestly. "Oh, my darling, never despair! Come what will, I shall always love you—always trust you—always—"