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way。
Add to this a good figure and a distinguished air； and you have some superficial idea of the gentleman toward whom Grace Carden found herself drawn by circumstances； and not unwillingly； though not with that sacred joy and thrill which marks a genuine passion。
They left George and the trap at the 〃Colley Dog；〃 and ascended the mountain。 There were no serious difficulties on this side； but still there were little occasional asperities； that gave the lover an opportunity to offer his arm； and Mr。 Coventry threw a graceful devotion even into this slight act of homage。 He wooed her with perfect moderation at first； it was not his business to alarm her at starting； he proceeded gradually； and； by the time they had reached the summit； he had felt his way； and had every reason to hope she would accept him。
At the summit the remarkable beauty of the view threw her into raptures； and interrupted the more interesting topic on which he was bent。
But the man of the world showed no impatience （I don't say he felt none）； he answered all Grace's questions； and told her what all the places were。
But； by…and…by； the atmosphere thickened suddenly in that quarter； and he then told her gently he had something to show her on the other side of the knob。
He conducted her to a shed the shepherds had erected； and seated her on a rude bench。 〃You must be a little tired；〃 he said。
Then he showed her； in the valley； one of those delightful old red brick houses； with white stone facings。 〃That is Bollinghope。〃
She looked at it with polite interest。
〃Do you like it？〃
〃Very much。 It warms the landscape so。〃
He expected a more prosaic answer； but he took her cue。 〃I wish it was a great deal prettier than it is； and its owner a much better man； richerwiser〃
〃You are hard to please； Mr。 Coventry。〃
〃Miss CardenGracemay I call you Grace？〃
〃It seems to me you have done it。〃
〃But I had no right。〃
〃Then； of course； you will never do it again。〃
〃I should be very unhappy if I thought that。 Miss Carden； I think you know how dear you are to me； and have been ever since I first met you。 I wish I had ten times more to offer you than I have。 But I am only a poor gentleman； of good descent； but moderate means； as you see。〃 Comedie！ （Bollinghope was the sort of house that generally goes with L5000 a year at least。）
〃I don't care about your means； Mr。 Coventry；〃 said Grace； with a lofty smile。 〃It is your amiable character that I esteem。〃
〃You forgive me for loving you； for hoping that you will let me lead you to my poor house there； as my adored wife？〃
It had come； and； although she knew it was coming； yet her face was dyed with blushes。
〃I esteem you very much；〃 she faltered。 〃I thank you for the honor you do me； but Ioh； pray； let me think what I am doing。〃 She covered her face with her hands； and her bosom panted visibly。
Mr。 Coventry loved her sincerely； and his own heart beat high at this moment。 He augured well from her agitation； but presently he saw something that puzzled him； and gave a man of his experience a qualm。
A tear forced its way between her fingers； another； and another； soon followed。
Coventry said to himself； 〃There's some other man。〃 And he sighed heavily； but even in this moment of true and strong feeling he was on his guard； and said nothing。
It was his wisest course。 She was left to herself； and an amazing piece of female logic came to Mr。 Coventry's aid。 She found herself crying； and got frightened at herself。 That； which would have made a man pause； had just the opposite effect on her。 She felt that no good could come to any body of those wild and weak regrets that made her weep。 She saw she had a weakness and a folly to cure herself of； and the cure was at hand。 There was a magic in marriage； a gentleman could； somehow； MAKE a girl love him when once she had married him。 Mr。 Coventry should be enabled to make her love him； he should cure her of this trick of crying； it would be the best thing for every bodyfor HIM； for Jael； for Mr。 Coventry； and even for herself。
She dried her eyes； and said； in a low； tremulous voice： 〃Have you spoken to papa ofof this？〃
〃No。 I waited to be authorized by you。 May I speak to him？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃May I tell him？〃
〃Oh I can't tell you what to tell him。 How dark it is getting。 Please take me home。〃 Another tear or two。
Then； if Coventry had not loved her sincerely； and also been a man of the world； he would have lost his temper； and if he had lost his temper； he would have lost the lady； for she would have seized the first fair opportunity to quarrel。 But no； he took her hand gently； and set himself to comfort her。 He poured out his love to her； and promised her a life of wedded happiness。 He drew so delightful a picture of their wedded life； and in a voice so winning； that she began to be consoled； and her tears ceased。
〃I believe you love me；〃 she murmured； 〃and I esteem you sincerely。〃
Mr。 Coventry drew a family ring from his pocket。 It was a sapphire of uncommon beauty。
〃This was my mother's；〃 said he。 〃Will you do me the honor to wear it； as a pledge？〃
But the actual fetter startled her； I think。 She started up； and said； 〃Oh； please take me home first！ IT IS GOING TO SNOW。〃
Call her slippery； if you don't like her； call her unhappy and wavering； if you do like her。
Mr。 Coventry smiled now at this attempt to put off the inevitable； and complied at once。
But； before they had gone a hundred yards； the snow did really fall； and so heavily that the air was darkened。
〃We had better go back to the shed till it is over；〃 said Mr。 Coventry。
〃Do you think so？〃 said Grace； doubtfully。 〃Well。〃
And they went back。
But the snow did not abate； and the air got darker。 So； by…and…by； Grace suggested that Mr。 Coventry should run down the hill； and send George up to her with an umbrella。
〃What； and leave you alone？〃 said he。
〃Well； then； we had better go together。〃
They started together。
By this time the whole ground was covered about three inches deep； not enough to impede their progress； but it had the unfortunate effect of effacing the distinct features of the ground； and； as the declining sun could no longer struggle successfully through the atmosphere； which was half air； half snow； they were almost in darkness； and soon lost their way。 They kept slanting unconsciously to the left； till they got over one of the forks of the mountain and into a ravine： they managed to get out of that； and continued to descend； for the great thing they had to do was to reach the valley； no matter where。
But； after a long laborious； and even dangerous descent； they found themselves beginning to ascend。 Another mountain or hill barred their progress。 Then they knew they must be all wrong； and began to feel rather anxious。 They wished they had stayed up on the hill。
They consulted together； and agreed to go on for the present； it might be only a small rise in the ground。
And so it proved。 After a while they found themselves descending again。
But now the path was full of pitfalls； hidden by the snow and the darkness。
Mr。 Coventry insisted on going first。