She bent her head and ceased her effort.
"Miss Layard," he said, after a moment's pause, "I want you to do me a great favour. Will you?"
"If I can," she said in a very low voice, so low that he had to bend towards her to catch it.
"In the dark and the daylight leave me your hand. Give it to me for ever."
"But the boy?" she said. "We must go see the boy."
She made a slight attempt to release her hand. He closed his fingers round it.
"We shall go see the boy presently." They were now standing at the tail of the Ait "I have your hand now, Hetty darling, and I mean to keep it. I have loved you since the first time I saw you, and I never loved any other woman. You will give me your hand, dear, and yourself, dear, and I will give you my heart and soul for all my life. You will give me your hand, dear?"
She did not take it away.
Then he let it go himself, and, putting his arms carefully round her, folded her gently to his breast, and said, with a broken sob:
"Merciful Heaven, this is more than any man deserves. May I kiss you, dear?"