Presently they struck the turf bridle-path, and, as they descended silently towards the lights of the village, he said gravely:
'I always reckoned what my day 'ud coom.'
She made no reply; and he added grimly:
'There'll be terrible work wi' mother over this.'
He accompanied her down the narrow lane that led past her uncle's house. When the lighted windows came in sight he halted.
'Good night, lassie,' he said kindly. 'Do ye give ower distressin' yeself.'
'Good night, Mr. Garstin,' she answered, in the same low, rapid voice in which she had given him her answer up on the fell.
'We're man an' wife plighted now, are we not?' he blurted timidly.
She held her face to his, and he kissed her on the cheek, clumsily.