"We will send one of the men for it in the morning," he said; "there will be no pilfering lovers in that place to-night, I warrant you."
"But it will be ruined by the dews," she insisted; "we may forget to send for it to-morrow; besides, I do not wish to leave it there. I will go back and get it."
"You!" he cried, with a laugh; "if you must have the worthless thing, I will go for it."
"We will go together, Loyd."
"No," he objected, in the gently authoritative tone which had become habitual with him, "you are completely tired out and the climb would prove the one straw too many. But how can I leave you here?"
"What is there to fear? We are within gun-shot of home."
Morton hesitated an instant; then he said with some reluctance,
"Would you mind walking on alone? I will make haste, take a short cut through the copse and meet you upon the lawn."
"Very well! I will walk slowly."
For some reason, which it would be vain to attempt to account for, he stooped and kissed her where she stood in a mellow ray of the risen moon.