And she ran into the back room for her bonnet and shawl.
He got up and gave her his arm and took her out upon the porch.
And they sat down together on the bench, under thickly overhanging vine-leaves.
"Craven," she murmured, with her head upon his shoulder, "do you really love me as much as you profess to do?"
"Do I really love you?" he repeated, with impassioned earnestness. "Oh, how shall I prove to you how much? Protestations are but words. Show me how I can prove to you how much I love you! Put me to the test! Try me--_try me!_"
She hesitated and sighed--perhaps in pity and remorse for this poor boy, who loved her so devotedly, and whom she was about to require to pay down his honor and his life as the price of her hand.
"Oh, tell me how I can show you the height and depth and breadth--no; I should rather say the immeasurability of my infinite love!" he pleaded, prayerfully.
Again she sighed and trembled--yes, trembled at the contemplation of the wickedness she was about to perpetrate; but she did not draw back from it. She slid her arm around his neck and kissed him softly, and then said:
"Listen to me, Craven, my dearest. This is Monday night, you know."
"On Wednesday morning I am to start for Philadelphia."
"Hush! Wait until you hear me out. You must meet me in Philadelphia on Friday morning. And we will be married on Friday noon."
He was struck speechless, breathless, for a few moments with the excess of his delight.
"Oh, bless you! Bless you, my queen, my angel! I bless you for this great joy!"
"You must be calm, my dear, and hear me out. You must be punctual, and meet me on Friday morning at ten o'clock, at _this_ address," she continued, handing him a slip of paper with the address in question written upon it. "There; now put it into your pocket-book and keep it safe."
"I will--I will, my queen! But why may I not go with you?"
"For reasons that I will explain soon. Till I do, you must trust me."
"Then please leave here for Philadelphia on Tuesday evening, so as to precede me by twelve hours. And on Friday morning, by ten o'clock, be at the place I have designated, and wait until I join you."
"We will be married at noon on the same day. Now do you understand?"
"My mind is in a delirium of joy, but I understand."