me over?  Shall I tell you what I thought then?  I thought that he who could have you for a mate would have the bravest and helpfullest wife in all England.  And not a mere beauty, for you have good looks:  but you have the qualities I have been in search of.  Why do your eyes look so mournfully at me?  I am full of hope.  We’ll sail the Esperanza for the Winter:  you and I, and our best friend with us.  And you shall have a voice in the council, be sure.’

‘If you are two to one?’ Jenny said quickly, to keep from faltering.

Beauchamp pressed his mouth to the mark of the bruise on her arm.  He held her fast.

’I mean it, if you will join me, that you and I should rejoice the heart of the dear old man—­will you?  He has been brooding over your loneliness here if you are unmarried, ever since his recovery.  I owe my life to you, and every debt of gratitude to him.  Now, Jenny!’

’Oh!  Captain Beauchamp—­Nevil, if you will . . . if I may have my hand.  You exaggerate common kindness.  He loves you.  We both esteem you.’

‘But you don’t love me?’

’Indeed I have no fear that I shall be unable to support myself, if I am left alone.’

’But I want your help.  I wake from illness with my eyes open.  I must have your arm to lean on now and then.’

Jenny dropped a shivering sigh.

‘Uncle is long absent!’ she said.

Her hand was released.  Beauchamp inspected his watch.

‘He may have fallen!  He may be lying on the common!’

‘Oh!’ cried Jenny, ‘why did I let him go out without me?’

‘Let me have his lantern; I’ll go and search over the common.’

‘You must not go out,’ said she.

‘I must.  The old man may be perishing.’

‘It will be death to you . . .  Nevil!’

’That ‘s foolish.  I can stand the air for a few minutes.’

’I ‘ll go,’ said Jenny.

‘Unprotected?  No.’

‘Cook shall come with me.’

‘Two women!’

‘Nevil, if you care a little for me, be good, be kind, submit.’

’He is half an hour behind dinner-time, and he’s never late.  Something must have happened to him.  Way for me, my dear girl.’

She stood firm between him and the door.  It came to pass that she stretched her hands to arrest him, and he seized the hands.

‘Rather than you should go out in this cold weather, anything!’ she said, in the desperation of physical inability to hold him back.

‘Ah!’ Beauchamp crossed his arms round her.  ‘I’ll wait for five minutes.’

One went by, with Jenny folded, broken and sobbing, senseless, against his breast.

They had not heard Dr. Shrapnel quietly opening the hall door and hanging up his hat.  He looked in.

‘Beauchamp!’ he exclaimed.

‘Come, doctor,’ said Beauchamp, and loosened his clasp of Jenny considerately.

She disengaged herself.