"It is yes; if you can take me for what I am. I don't love you; I don't know that I shall ever love you, but I will try. If I marry you, I will be your true and faithful wife, and your honour will be as sacred as my salvation. If you can take me, knowing this, I am yours."
He caught her in his arms, and broke out into a torrent of passionate delight and thankfulness. She disengaged herself, cold and very pale.
"Leave me now," she said. "I must go to the village alone. Don't ask too much from me, Sir Ronald, or you may be disappointed."
"Only one thing more, my darling. Your father is to be married on the twenty-fourth. I am sure you will have no wish to linger in this house after that. Will you not dispense with the usual formalities and preparations, and be married on the same day?"
"Yes, yes," she said, impatiently; "let it be as you wish! What does it matter? Good-morning."
She walked away rapidly over the frozen snow, leaving the successful wooer to return to the house and relate his good luck.
CHAPTER XIX.
VIA CRUCIS.
So once more Miss Danton was "engaged;" once more preparations for a double wedding went on; once more her wedding day was named.