He mounted his horse within the quadrangle, and coming out at the great old-fashioned ugly portal, galloped off across the green park with a loose rein and a happy heart.

What is it the song says?
"Oh, ladies, beware of a gay young knight Who loves and who rides away." There was at Clara's heart, as she stood there at the window, some feeling of the expediency of being beware, some shadow of doubt as to the wisdom of what she had done.

He rode away gaily, with a happy spirit, for he had won that on the winning of which he had been intent.

No necessity for caution presented itself to him.

He had seen and loved; had then asked, and had not asked in vain.
She stood gazing after him, as long as her straining eye could catch any outline of his figure as it disappeared through the gloom of the evening.