Up in Garvloit's house Elizabeth was standing at the open window--she, too, that day had needed to be alone with her thoughts.

Salve saw her, and stood still for a moment contemplating her as she leant out over the window ledge.
"That dear head shall be mine," he burst out then passionately, and without knowing it, aloud; and the next moment he was at Garvloit's door.
Elizabeth heard the door of the room open behind her; and when she saw Salve unexpectedly standing before her, she sank down for a moment on to a chair, but got up the next with a scared look, almost as if he was some hostile apparition.
"Elizabeth!" he said, gently, "are you going to send me out again into the world?
God only knows how I shall come back if you do." She did not answer, but stood looking at him with a rigid expression, and pale as death; she seemed to have forgotten to breathe, and to be only waiting for him to say more.
"Be my wife, Elizabeth," he asked, "and I shall grow up into a good man again.

What a pitiful creature I have been without you, you have already seen sufficiently this morning." "God be my witness, Salve," she answered, the tears bursting into her eyes with emotion which she tried to control, "you alone have always had my heart--but I must first know in perfect truth what you think of me." "The same as I think of God's angels, Elizabeth," he said from his heart, and tried to take her hand.
"Do you know that I--was once very nearly engaged to young Beck ?" she asked, reddening, but with a steady look.

"I didn't know my real self then, but was thinking only of folly and nonsense, until I was obliged to fly from it all." "Your aunt has told me all about it, Elizabeth.

Don't let us mention the subject again." "And you haven't a doubt about me in your heart?
For that I never will bear, Salve, like to-day,--I can't bear it, do you understand ?" she said, with a shake in her voice, and looking as it were down into his very soul.
"Doubt!" he said; and for that moment, at all events, he was evidently convinced that she had never given her real heart to any one but himself.
A look of inexpressible happiness came into her face; he caught her into his arms, and they stood as if they never would let go of each other again, cheek to cheek, not speaking, not thinking even.