pretty　well　informed　for　the　enterprise　that　lay　before　me。　　I　knew
  the　lair　of　the　dragon　…　that　which　was　just　illuminated。　　I　knew
  the　bower　of　my　Rosamond；　and　how　excellently　it　was　placed　on　the
  ground…level；　round　the　flank　of　the　cottage　and　out　of　earshot　of
  her　formidable　aunt。　　Nothing　was　left　but　to　apply　my　knowledge。
  I　was　then　at　the　bottom　of　the　garden；　whether　I　had　gone　（Heaven
  save　the　mark！）　for　warmth；　that　I　might　walk　to　and　fro　unheard
  and　keep　myself　from　perishing。　　The　night　had　fallen　still；　the
  wind　ceased；　the　noise　of　the　rain　had　much　lightened；　if　it　had
  not　stopped；　and　was　succeeded　by　the　dripping　of　the　garden　trees。
  In　the　midst　of　this　lull；　and　as　I　was　already　drawing　near　to　the
  cottage；　I　was　startled　by　the　sound　of　a　window…sash　screaming　in
  its　channels；　and　a　step　or　two　beyond　I　became　aware　of　a　gush　of
  light　upon　the　darkness。　　It　fell　from　Flora's　window；　which　she
  had　flung　open　on　the　night；　and　where　she　now　sat；　roseate　and
  pensive；　in　the　shine　of　two　candles　falling　from　behind；　her
  tresses　deeply　embowering　and　shading　her；　the　suspended　comb　still
  in　one　hand；　the　other　idly　clinging　to　the　iron　stanchions　with
  which　the　window　was　barred。
  Keeping　to　the　turf；　and　favoured　by　the　darkness　of　the　night　and
  the　patter　of　the　rain　which　was　now　returning；　though　without
  wind；　I　approached　until　I　could　almost　have　touched　her。　　It
  seemed　a　grossness　of　which　I　was　incapable　to　break　up　her　reverie
  by　speech。　　I　stood　and　drank　her　in　with　my　eyes；　how　the　light
  made　a　glory　in　her　hair；　and　（what　I　have　always　thought　the　most
  ravishing　thing　in　nature）　how　the　planes　ran　into　each　other；　and
  were　distinguished；　and　how　the　hues　blended　and　varied；　and　were
  shaded　off；　between　the　cheek　and　neck。　　At　first　I　was　abashed：
  she　wore　her　beauty　like　an　immediate　halo　of　refinement；　she
  discouraged　me　like　an　angel；　or　what　I　suspect　to　be　the　next　most
  discouraging；　a　modern　lady。　　But　as　I　continued　to　gaze；　hope　and
  life　returned　to　me；　I　forgot　my　timidity；　I　forgot　the　sickening
  pack　of　wet　clothes　with　which　I　stood　burdened；　I　tingled　with　new
  blood。
  Still　unconscious　of　my　presence；　still　gazing　before　her　upon　the
  illuminated　image　of　the　window；　the　straight　shadows　of　the　bars；
  the　glinting　of　pebbles　on　the　path；　and　the　impenetrable　night　on
  the　garden　and　the　hills　beyond　it；　she　heaved　a　deep　breath　that
  struck　upon　my　heart　like　an　appeal。
  'Why　does　Miss　Gilchrist　sigh？'　I　whispered。　　'Does　she　recall
  absent　friends？'
  She　turned　her　head　swiftly　in　my　direction；　it　was　the　only　sign
  of　surprise　she　deigned　to　make。　　At　the　same　time　I　stepped　into
  the　light　and　bowed　profoundly。
  'You！'　she　said。　　'Here？'
  'Yes；　I　am　here；'　I　replied。　　'I　have　come　very　far；　it　may　be　a
  hundred　and　fifty　leagues；　to　see　you。　　I　have　waited　all　this
  night　in　your　garden。　　Will　Miss　Gilchrist　not　offer　her　hand　…　to
  a　friend　in　trouble？'
  She　extended　it　between　the　bars；　and　I　dropped　upon　one　knee　on
  the　wet　path　and　kissed　it　twice。　　At　the　second　it　was　withdrawn
  suddenly；　methought　with　more　of　a　start　than　she　had　hitherto
  displayed。　　I　regained　my　former　attitude；　and　we　were　both　silent
  awhile。　　My　timidity　returned　on　me　tenfold。　　I　looked　in　her　face
  for　any　signals　of　anger；　and　seeing　her　eyes　to　waver　and　fall
  aside　from　mine；　augured　that　all　was　well。
  'You　must　have　been　mad　to　come　here！'　she　broke　out。　　'Of　all
  places　under　heaven　this　is　no　place　for　you　to　come。　　And　I　was
  just　thinking　you　were　safe　in　France！'
  'You　were　thinking　of　me！'　I　cried。
  'Mr。　St。　Ives；　you　cannot　understand　your　danger；'　she　replied。　　'I
  am　sure　of　it；　and　yet　I　cannot　find　it　in　my　heart　to　tell　you。
  O；　be　persuaded；　and　go！'
  'I　believe　I　know　the　worst。　　But　I　was　never　one　to　set　an　undue
  value　on　life；　the　life　that　we　share　with　beasts。　　My　university
  has　been　in　the　wars；　not　a　famous　place　of　education；　but　one
  where　a　man　learns　to　carry　his　life　in　his　hand　as　lightly　as　a
  glove；　and　for　his　lady　or　his　honour　to　lay　it　as　lightly　down。
  You　appeal　to　my　fears；　and　you　do　wrong。　　I　have　come　to　Scotland
  with　my　eyes　quite　open　to　see　you　and　to　speak　with　you　…　it　may
  be　for　the　last　time。　　With　my　eyes　quite　open；　I　say；　and　if　I　did
  not　hesitate　at　the　beginning　do　you　think　that　I　would　draw　back
  now？'
  'You　do　not　know！'　she　cried；　with　rising　agitation。　　'This
  country；　even　this　garden；　is　death　to　you。　　They　all　believe　it；　I
  am　the　only　one　that　does　not。　　If　they　hear　you　now；　if　they　heard
  a　whisper　…　I　dread　to　think　of　it。　　O；　go；　go　this　instant。　　It　is
  my　prayer。'
  'Dear　lady；　do　not　refuse　me　what　I　have　come　so　far　to　seek；　and
  remember　that　out　of　all　the　millions　in　England　there　is　no　other
  but　yourself　in　whom　I　can　dare　confide。　　I　have　all　the　world
  against　me；　you　are　my　only　ally；　and　as　I　have　to　speak；　you　have
  to　listen。　　All　is　true　that　they　say　of　me；　and　all　of　it　false　at
  the　same　time。　　I　did　kill　this　man　Goguelat　…　it　was　that　you
  meant？'
  She　mutely　signed　to　me　that　it　was；　she　had　become　deadly　pale。
  'But　I　killed　him　in　fair　fight。　　Till　then；　I　had　never　taken　a
  life　unless　in　battle；　which　is　my　trade。　　But　I　was　grateful；　I
  was　on　fire　with　gratitude；　to　one　who　had　been　good　to　me；　who　had
  been　better　to　me　than　I　could　have　dreamed　of　an　angel；　who　had
  come　into　the　darkness　of　my　prison　like　sunrise。　　The　man　Goguelat
  insulted　her。　　O；　he　had　insulted　me　often；　it　was　his　favourite
  pastime；　and　he　might　insult　me　as　he　pleased　…　for　who　was　I？　　But
  with　that　lady　it　was　different。　　I　could　never　forgive　myself　if　I
  had　let　it　pass。　　And　we　fought；　and　he　fell；　and　I　have　no
  remorse。'
  I　waited　anxiously　for　some　reply。　　The　worst　was　now　out；　and　I
  knew　that　she　had　heard　of　it　before；　but　it　was　impossible　for　me
  to　go　on　with　my　narrative　without　some　shadow　of　encouragement。
  'You　blame　me？'
  'No；　not　at　all。　　It　is　a　point　I　cannot　speak　on　…　I　am　only　a
  girl。　　I　am　sure　you　were　in　the　right：　I　have　always　said　so　…　to
  Ronald。　　Not；　of　course；　to　my　aunt。　　I　am　afraid　I　let　her　speak
  as　she　will。　　You　must　not　think　me　a　disloyal　friend；　and　even
  with　the　Major　…　I　did　not　tell　you　he　had　become　quite　a　friend　of
  ours　…　Major　Chevenix；　I　mean　…　he　has　taken　such　a　fancy　to
  Ronald！　　It　was　he　that　brought　the　news　to　us　of　that　hateful
  Clausel　being　captured；　and　all　that　he　was　saying。　　I　was
  indignant　with　him。　　I　said　…　I　dare　say　I　said　too　much　…　and　I
  must　say　he　was　very　good…natured。　　He　said；　〃You　and　I；　who　are
  his　friends；　KNOW　that　Champdivers　is　innocent。　　But　what　is　the
  use　of　saying　it？〃　　All　this　was　in　the　corner　of　the　room　in　what
  they　call　an　aside。　　And　then　he　said；　〃Give　me　a　chance　to　speak
  to　you　in　private；　I　have　much　to　tell　you。〃　　And　he　did。　　And　told
  me　just　what　you　did　…　that　it　was　an　affair　of　honour；　and　no
  blame　attached　to　you。　　O；　I　must　say　I　like　that　Major　Chevenix！'
  At　this　I　was　seized　with　a　great　pang　of　jealousy。　　I　remembered
  the　first　time　that　he　had　seen　her；　the　interest　that　he　seemed
  immediately　to　conceive；　and　I　could　not　but　admire　the　dog　for　the
  use　he　had　been　ingenious　enough　to　make　of　our　acquaintance　in
  order　to　supplant　me。　　All　is　fair　in　love　and　war。　　For　all　that；
  I　was　now　no　less　anxious　to　do　the　speaking　myself　than　I　had　been
  before　to　hear　Flora。　　At　least；　I　could　keep　clear　of　the　hateful
  image　of　Major　Chevenix。　　Accordingly　I　burst　at　once　on　the
  narrative　of　my　adventures。　　It　was　the　same　as　you　have　read；　but
  briefer；　and　told　with　a　very　different　purpose。　　Now　every
  incident　had　a　particular　bearing；　every　by…way　branched　off　to
  Rome　…　and　that　was　Flora。
  When　I　had　begun　to　speak　I　had　kneeled　upon　the　gravel　withoutside
  the　low　window；　rested　my　arms　upon　the　sill；　and　lowered　my　voice
  to　the　most　confidential　whisper。　　Flora　herself　must　kneel　upon
  the　other　side；　and　this　brought　our　heads　upon　a　level　with　only
  the　bars　between　us。　　So　placed；　so　separated；　it　seemed　that　our
  proximity；　and　the　continuous　and　low　sounds　of　my　pleading　voice；
  worked　progressively　and　powerfully　on　her　heart；　and　perhaps　not
  less　so　on　my　own。　　For　these　spells　are　double…edged。　　The　silly
  birds　may　be　charmed　with　the　pipe　of　the　fowler；　which　is　but　a
  tube　of　reeds。　　Not　so　with　a　bird　of　our　own　feather！　　As　I　went
  on；　and　my　resolve　strengthened；　and　my　voice　found　new
  modulations；　and　our　faces　were　drawn　closer　to　the　bars　and　to
  each　other；　not　only　she；　but　I；　succumbed　to　the　fascination；　and
  were　kindled　by　the　charm。　　We　make　love；　and　thereby　ourselves
  fall　the　deeper　in　it。　　It　is　with　the　heart　only　that　one　captures
  a　heart。
  'And　n