"I _do_ trust you; but I am afraid that it might seem like a practical forgery to be married under another person's name," he replied.
"Nonsense! Do you think that I could be such an idiot as to implicate you in any act that might be construed into forgery, practical or otherwise?" she inquired, with a light laugh.
"Oh, no, certainly you are not the lady to do that!" he admitted.
"Well, then, what next? You look as solemn as a judge or an owl!"
"I am afraid, also, that if I should be married under any other name than my own our marriage itself might turn out to be nothing more than a practical joke instead of a legal union."
"Mr. Kyte!" she suddenly exclaimed, with her eyes flashing fire. "You insult me! Am I the sort of woman that would compromise my good name in a marriage of doubtful legality?"
"Oh, no; certainly you would not! Nor did I mean that. I earnestly beg your pardon!" said Craven, penitently.
"You are a silly gander, and a dear, darling duck of a boy! And I love you! But you must understand that I know what I am about. And you must trust me--you must trust me; and, once for all, you must _trust_ me!" she said, archly, giving his arm another squeeze.
"I do--I do! Come; shall we be going? I am on the rack till our wedding is over."
"Yes; but we must take a cab. The distance is a long one."
"There is a cab-stand a couple of blocks from here. I noticed it as I came along. We will take one there, if you please."
She assented, and they walked on to the stand and engaged a cab.
When they were seated in it Craven Kyte ordered the cabman to drive to the rectory of St. ---- Church.
Half an hour's driving brought them to their destination.
When the cab drew up to the door of the house, Craven was about to alight, when Mary Grey stopped him.
And taking from her card-case a pencil and a blank card, she wrote upon it the name:
"Send that in," she said, handing the card to the bewildered young man.
Craven Kyte took it, looked at it attentively, and then exclaimed:
"Why, that is exactly like Mr. Lytton's own handwriting! If I had not seen you write it I should have taken it to be his autograph."
"Should you? So much the better. But never mind that now. Go and do as I told you."
He alighted immediately and went up to the door of the house. He rang the bell, and sent in the card by the servant who answered it.