But Nell shook her head.

"I can't do that, countess," she said. "I can't leave Mr. Falconer. He is much better and stronger this morning; the nurse says that he slept all night, for the first time; but he still needs me--and--I owe him so much!" she added in a low voice.

The countess looked at her keenly for a moment; then she nodded.

"I see. Drake told me that I should find you harder to move than you look. And I am not sure that you are not right," she said. "When you come to stay at the Hall it will be as mistress." Nell's face crimsoned again. "But, my dear girl, we can't pa.s.s over the great event as if it were of no consequence. Drake's engagement, under any circ.u.mstances, would be of the deepest interest to all of us, to the whole country; but his engagement to you will create a profound sensation, and we must demonstrate our satisfaction in some way. I'm afraid you will have to face a big dinner party."

Nell looked rather frightened.

"Oh!" she breathed. "Is--is it necessary? Can't we just go on as if--as if nothing had happened?"

The countess laughed.

"That's exactly what Drake said when I spoke to him about it last night.

It is nice to find you so completely of one mind. But I'm afraid it wouldn't do. You see, my dear, the people will want to see you, to be introduced to you; and if we pursue the usual course there will be much less talk and curiosity than if we let things slide. Yes, you will have to run the gauntlet; but I don't think you need be apprehensive of the result," and she looked at her with affectionate approval.

"Very well," said Nell resignedly. "You know what is best, and I will do anything you and Drake wish."

"What a dutiful child!" exclaimed the countess, banteringly. "And though you won't come and stay at the Hall, you will come up and see us very often, to lunch and tea and----"

"When Mr. Falconer can spare me," said Nell quietly.

"Yes. And about him, dear. We talked of him last night, and his future.

That will be Drake's special care. He, too, owes him a big debt, and he feels it. Mr. Falconer is a genius, and the world must be made to know it before very long. And your brother, dear; you will let him come up to the Hall?"

Nell laughed softly.

"You are thinking of everything," she said. "Even of d.i.c.k. Oh, yes, he'll come. d.i.c.k isn't a bit shy; but he thinks more of his electric machines than anything else on earth just at present."

"I know," said the countess, laughing. "But we must try and lure him from them now and again. I am sure we shall all like him, for he is wonderfully like you. Now, about the dinner, dear. Shall we say this day week?"

"So soon!" said Nell.

"Yes; it mustn't be later, for this wretched trial is coming on; the a.s.sizes are quite close, you know; and Drake will have to be there as witness. My dear, I'm glad they did not get off with the diamonds! You little thought that night, when you saved Drake's life, and prevented the man getting away, that you were fighting for your own jewels."

"Mine!" said Nell.

The countess laughed.

"Why, yes, you dear goose! Are they not the Angleford diamonds, and will they not soon be yours?"

Nell blushed and looked a little aghast.

"I--I haven't realized it all yet," she said. "Ah! I wish Drake were--just Drake Vernon! I am afraid when I think----"

The countess smiled and shook her head.

"There is no need to be afraid, my dear," she said shrewdly. "You will wear the Angleford coronet very well and very gracefully, if I am not mistaken, because you set so little store by it. And now here comes Drake! It is good of him to give me so long with you. Give me a kiss before he comes--he won't begrudge me that surely! Ah, you happy girl!"

Drake drove up in a dogcart.

"I can't get down; the mare won't stand"--he hadn't brought a groom, for excellent reasons. "Please tell Nell to get her things on as quickly as she can!" he said to the countess as she came out.

Nell looked doubtful.

"I will go upstairs first," she said. But Falconer was asleep, and when she came down she had her outdoor things on.

Drake bent down and held out his hand to help her up.

"You won't be long?" she asked, and she looked up at him shyly, for, after their long separation, he seemed almost strange to her.

"Just as long as you like," he said, understanding the reason for her question, and glancing at the window of Falconer's room. "d.i.c.k tells me that he is better this morning. I couldn't say how glad I am, dearest Nell," he whispered, as the mare sprang at the collar and they whirled through the gates and down the road. "Is it you really who are sitting beside me, or am I dreaming?"

Nell's hand stole nearer to his arm until it touched it softly.

"I have asked myself that all night, Drake," she said, almost inaudibly.

"It is so much more like a dream than a reality. Are we going through the village?" she asked, suddenly and shyly.

"Yes," he said. "We are. Nell, I want to show my treasure to the good folk who have known me since I was a boy. Perhaps the news has reached the village by this time--for the servants at the Hall know it, and I want them to see how happy you have made me!"

There could be no doubt of the news having got to the village, for as the dogcart sped through it the people came to the doors of the shops and cottages, all alive with curiosity and excitement.

Drake nodded to the curtseys and greetings, and looked so radiantly happy that one woman, feeling that touch of nature which makes all men kin, called out to them:

"G.o.d bless you, my lord, and send you both happiness!"

"That's worth having, Nell," he said, very quietly; but Nell didn't speak, and the tears were in her eyes. "A few days ago I should have laughed or sneered at that benediction," he said gravely. "What a change has come over my life in a few short hours! There is no magic like that of love, Nell."

They were silent for some time after they had left the village behind them, but presently Drake began to call her attention to the various points of interest in the view; the prosperous farms, and thickly wooded preserves; and Nell began, half unconsciously, to realize the extent of the vast estate--the one of many--of which the man she was going to marry was lord and master.

"I'm going to take you to a farm which has been held by the same family for several generations," he said. "I think you will like Styles and his wife; and you won't mind if they are outspoken, dearest? I was here to lunch only the other day, and Styles read me a lecture on my duties as lord of Angleford. One of the heads was that I ought to choose a wife without loss of time. I want to show him that I have taken his sermon to heart."

"Perhaps he may not approve of your choice," said Nell.

Drake laughed.

"Well, if he doesn't, he won't hesitate to say so," he said.

They pulled up at the farm, and Styles came down to the gate to welcome them, calling to a lad to hold the mare.

"Yes, we will come in for a minute or two, Styles, if Mrs. Styles will have us," said Drake.

Mrs. Styles, in the doorway, wiping her hands freshly washed from the flour of a pudding, smiled a welcome.

"Come right in, my lord," she said. "You know you be welcome well enough." She looked at Nell, who was blushing a little. "And all the more welcome for the company you bring."

"Sit down, my lord; sit ye down, miss--or is it 'my lady'?" said Styles, perfectly at ease in his unaffected pleasure at seeing them.

"This is Miss Lorton, the young lady who is rash enough to promise to be my wife, Mrs. Styles," said Drake. "I drove over to introduce her to you, and to show that I took your good advice to heart."