“Oh hush, hush, dear. … By the way what am I to call you--darling?” For the moment he was taken aback. To give her his own name as yet would be to break the resolution of present secrecy; to give her a false name now would be sacrilege. His native Irish wit stood him in good stead:
“That is the name for to-day--darling. There can be none like that--for to-day. We began with it. It took me on its wings up to heaven. Let me stay there--for to-day. For to-day we are true husband and wife--are we not?”
“Yes dear!” she answered simply. He went on:
“To-morrow … we can be grave to-morrow; and then I can give you another name to use--if you wish it!”
“I do!” she said with reverence. She accepted and returned the kiss which followed. This closed the incident, and for a little space they sat hand in hand, his arm again round her whilst again she had linked her arm in his. Presently he said:
“And now Joy dear, won’t you tell me all about yourself. You know that as yet you and I know very little about each other’s surroundings. I want specially to know to-day dear, for to-morrow I want to see your father and it will be better to go equipped.” Joy felt quite in a flutter. At last she was going to learn something about the man she loved. She would tell him everything, and he would … Her thoughts were interrupted by her companion going on:
“And then to-morrow when we have talked I can tell you everything. …”
“Everything!” then there was something to conceal! Her heart fell. But as the man continued, her train of thought was again interrupted:
“When you see him to-night you had better …”
Suddenly she jumped to her feet in a sort of fright. Seeing her face he too sprang up, giving, with the instinct of his campaigning a quick look around as though some danger threatened:
“What is it Joy? What is wrong? …” She almost gasped out:
“My father! He will be home by seven! It must be late in the afternoon now and we are more than a hundred miles from home! …” Athlyne in turn was staggered. In his happiness in being with Joy and talking of love he had quite overlooked the passing of time. Instinctively he looked at his watch. It was now close on four o’clock. … Joy was the first to speak:
“Oh do let us hurry! No one knows where I am; and if when Daddy gets home and finds I am not there he will be alarmed--and he may be upset. And Mother and Aunt Judy too! … Oh do not lose a moment! If we do not get home before they arrive … and Daddy finds I have been out all day with you … Oh, hurry, hurry!”