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She watched the colour seep from his cheeks. She saw his lips tremble, then mouth her name, yet no sound came from them. And so she went on,

"The proposition is this. You can either marry me or I can become your mistress."

When he fell back from her, dropped on to the couch, put his elbows on his knees and covered his face with his hands she silently mouthed the words. Oh, my God! She had embarrassed him beyond pardon. She had thought . What had she thought? She was mad, for now gone, too, would be the friendship. What had she done? She was about to say, I'm sorry. Oh, I'm sorry, when his arms shot out and around her thighs and his head was buried against her stomach, and the next minute he had swung her round so that she fell on to the couch with a thump, and then they were lying on their sides looking at each other. And his words came out between gasps, "Oh! Anna, my love. What have you said? Only what I've longed to hear, for years and years I've longed to hear those words, I love you, because I couldn't say them to you, not in the state I am in. I've always thought it would be unfair.

Most women almost faint at the mention of a fit. I knew you wouldn't do that, but to offer to join yourself to me for life . and you said'

he was laughing now' you said you would be my mistress.

Oh, Anna, Anna, that in a way is a great compliment; but I don't want a mistress, I want a wife. I've always wanted a wife and you as my wife Don't cry, my love. Don't cry. Oh, look' he pointed to the fire now'

you have no idea of the pictures I have seen in those flames. Oh, my dear, dearest Anna, let me dry your eyes. And this, this is what I've seen myself doing in those flames. " And now his arms went about her and he laid his lips on hers, and the kiss was long and tender. When their lips parted they still lay and looked at each other in silence, until he said, " There may be happier days for us but not one that I shall remember as I shall this: these last few moments. Oh!

Anna. You know, I want to sing, I want to take you by the hand and run with you to some place. Oh, I don't know what I want. I think Byron's words, "Let joy be unconfined" fit how I'm feeling, although' he laughed now' that had to do with the Battle of Waterloo, hadn't it? "

And she, laughing too, completed his quotation:

"On with the dance, let joy be unconfined." Their foreheads came together for a moment, then taking

her face between his hands he asked quietly, "How soon can we be married?"

"As soon as you like, my dear."

"So be it, as soon as I like," and when she whispered, "Well, let it be that soon or sooner," they fell together and laughed and rocked each other until he cried, "Oh! I forgot. I brought you a present. Let me get my case."

When he brought a leather case to the couch he took from it a long, narrow box tied up with a gold cord and he handed it to her, saying,

"That'll be the first of many, my dear, because I'll be at liberty now to buy you what I will."

Inside the box were three long strands of twisted gold and she gasped as she said, "Oh! it's beautiful, beautiful. Oh! Tim."

"Stand up, my darling."

She stood up, and he fastened the clasp at the back of her neck, then said, "Come and look in the mirror," and led her to a wall mirror in which she looked at her reflection and that of the three-strand gold necklace hanging down below her collarbone, one strand falling behind the other. Then raising her eyes to his through the mirror, she said,

"Oh, my dear, what can I say?"

Turning her towards him, he said, "You can say those three words again that almost brought on my collapse."

"Oh! Tim, my dear, dear Tim, they were true. I do love you and I have for a long, long time. Looking back, I think the seed was sown the day you looked at me from the mat and spoke one word; angel."

"Well, my love, that's how I've thought of you ever since. But now'

he lifted her hand' you should have a ring. I have some odd bits of jewellery in the safe, but one thing I haven't got is a ring. We will go into town tomorrow and you'll have one with the biggest stone I can find ... " I won't! I'll have a ring, but not one with the biggest stone you can find. I don't care for flashy jewellery. "

"You will have one, madam, with the biggest stone I can find, or else."

"What does that mean? None at all?"

"That's right, none at all." He bent forward and kissed her gently again; then he laughed, saying, "I want to shout this out to someone.

Shall we tell the staff? "

"You would like that?"

"Wouldn't you? Would it upset you?"

"Upset me? Oh! Tim, no, no. You are doing me an honour, and I am well aware of it because you know my history. It isn't everyone who would . He clapped his hand over her mouth, saying, " Don't you ever refer to that. You are worth the love of any man, any man, however great he might be, and / am honoured. I am the one who is honoured and so very, very grateful. Oh! Anna, you don't know how grateful. You said you had felt rejected, well, I have felt rejected ever since this cursed thing struck me. I have laughed and talked and chattered aimlessly, all the while being aware of how people were even afraid to be in my company in case I had . one of those. " He nodded his head now.

"They were even afraid to

put the word fit to it. Many a time I have left a company to prevent myself crying in front of them, because I knew they couldn't differentiate between someone who had fits and a mental defective or an idiot. No, my dear, till the day I die there will be a portion of my heart that will be indebted to you. But before we leave this dire subject I shall tell you this. When I was in London I saw the specialist who has delved into this sickness and although he said he couldn't cure me, he has come up with a pill that, although it cannot prevent the attacks, it can decrease their severity. Well' he now spread one hand out 'so far so good. Now, let's go and tell them. "

He led her out of the drawing-room and, seeing Walters about to mount the stairs, he called, "Would you be kind enough, Walters, to bring in Edward and Fletcher. I have some news I would like you all to share."

"Yes. Yes, of course, sir." He stared from one to the other and smiled widely at them before hurrying out. And now, Tim, still holding her hand, led her into the kitchen, saying, "Where is that woman who stuffs me with cream sponge cake? Oh, there you are, Cook!"

Mrs. Ada Sprigman turned from the table, her face beaming.

"Oh, sir, you know you are a tease," she said. And the kitchen maid, Lena Cassidy, turned from the sink, a wide grin on her face and, bobbing from one to the other, giggled. And Mary Bowles, who was quickly wiping her mouth, likely after having had her share of another sponge cake, said, "Is there anything you want, sir?"

"Yes, I want all your attention; Walters has gone for Edward and Fletcher. I have some news for you."

The three women now stood side by side against the edge of the table.

' Tis good news, I can see, sir, or you wouldn't be looking so bright.

"

"Besides being a very good cook you are a very discerning woman, Mrs.

Sprigman." And at this the three women laughed. Then the back door opened and the gardener and the coachman entered, both doffing their caps. But it was noticeable that Walters didn't come in the back way, but entered the kitchen from the hallway and approached his master's side, just as Timothy, looking round his small staff, said, "It is with the greatest pleasure in the world I am able to tell you that Miss Dagshaw has consented to be my wife."

There was a slight gasp or two, then a chorus of "Oh! sir. Oh!

miss."

"Oh! congratulations, sir. Congratulations, miss. We wish you every happiness, sir."

"If anybody deserves to be happy, it's you, sir."

"And you, miss. Oh yes, and you, miss."

"When is it to be, sir?"

This was from Edward, and Timothy answered him, "Well, it would be tonight if I had my way, but it will be by special licence some time within the next week or so."

"Oh, I'll make you a spread like you've never seen afore, sir, that's if you're having it in the house."

Timothy now turned to Anna and said, "Well, this will be for discussion," and Anna, looking at the cook, said, "That would be lovely, Mrs. Sprigman,

to have it in this house.

"Yes' she nodded now towards Timothy 'we'll have it in the house." And he, nodding back to her said, "Very good, ma'am," which, in the emotional circumstances, caused loud laughter all round. And now he said, "I think a drink would be in order. What do you think, Walters?"

"I think you're right, sir. What would you like?"

"Well, toasts are usually made in champagne but I don't think we have any in our little cellar, have we?"

"No, sir. But there's a very good claret and a port, and, if the ladies would prefer it, a sherry."

"Well, bring the three choices into the sitting- room and we'll drink there. So, come along ... His hold on Anna's hand was only released when, in the sitting-room, they all held a glass and in different ways the staff drank to their health. And when Tim's glass of claret touched Anna's glass and he said, " May you know nothing but happiness, my dear, from now on," there was a concerted chorus of, " Hear-hear!

sir. Hear! hear! "

Just before the staff left the room the cook, looking at Timothy, said,

"Would you like me to knock you up a nice dinner, sir? I had two pheasants come in this mornin'."

Timothy now turned to Anna, saying, "You'll stay to dinner, won't you?"

And she, without hesitation, said, "Yes. Yes, I'd be delighted to."

"Well, that's settled, ma'am, that's settled."

As Mrs. Sprigman bobbed to her, Anna noticed that she had suddenly become ma'am and she felt an added warmth seep through her. She had entered a new world, and she'd be free in it. Oh, so lovingly free

.

It was turned seven o'clock when they finished their dinner in the dining-room.

Anna had never sat down to such a table, nor had she ever eaten such a meal or drunk so much wine. And so, when Walters said to Timothy,

"It's snowing heavily, sir," Timothy said, "Oh, dear me. The carriage is going to have a job. Is it lying?"

"It's a good inch, sir, and there's a wind blowing, so there'll be drifts already."

"Oh go out and see what Edward thinks," Timothy said to him, 'and we'll go by that, eh? "

With the room to themselves, he murmured, "Well now, milady, what's to happen if you can't get home?"

She smiled back at him across the table as she answered, "I'll take great pleasure in staying the night here, sir." And at this he laughed, and said loudly, "Will you indeed, madam?" And she answered as playfully, "Yes, sir, if it is your pleasure."

"Oh! Anna, Anna. What a day! What a beautiful, delightful day! And how lovely you are! To think I shall see you every day for the rest of my life sitting across from me at our table. But seriously, would you stay the night?"

"Why not?"

And again he laughed as he said, "Why not indeed! I shall get Mary to put a warming pan into the spare-room bed. But I do feel your people should be told, so I'll ask Edward to go over on horseback. If it's only an inch or so the horse will get through all right, whereas the carriage ... well,

that's a different thing. Excuse me, my dear. "

After he had gone from the room she sat back and closed her eyes and said to herself, "Oh, Jimmy, Jimmy, what a beautiful escape! And what will they say when they hear the news that I'm staying the night here;

that, like Cherry, I've succumbed at last to pattern? Yes, yes; that's what they'll think. And they'll be happy in a way now that I won't be able to hold my head up so high. They'll say. Why him? Why couldn't she have taken this step with the other one? Look what she's saddled herself with, a man who has fits . a wonderful man, a thinking man, a kind and generous man, a lovely man. Oh yes, a lovely man . ' Timothy came back into the room saying, "It's all been taken care of."

The. i taking her hand, he said, "Come, my dear, we'll have coffee in the drawing-room."

They were crossing the hall when he suddenly stopped and exclaimed,

"Christmas! We'll have a big tree in the corner there, aglow with candles, and holly and mistletoe and flowers everywhere."

When they entered the drawing-room she said, "How old did you say you were?" And he replied, "You've put me into my second childhood, dear."

When, a moment later, they stood facing each other on the rug before the fire, he placed his hands on her shoulders and asked quietly,

"Would you like children?" and as quietly she answered, "I'd love children, Tim. Do ... do you want children?"

"Oh, yes, yes, Anna."

"How many would you like?" Now she was smiling at him, and he pushed his mouth from one side to the other before he said, "Let me think.

Well, ten's a round number. I like round numbers, but, all right, I'll be satisfied with five. How's that?"

"Oh! Tim." She put her arms about him, and when they now kissed it wasn't gentle but gave evidence of the hunger in both of them. And when at last they stood apart he said, "It must be soon, mustn't it?"

And she answered, "Yes, it must be soon."

It was nine days later when they were married by -Parson Mason in the little church at Fellburn. All her family were present, as, of course, was Miss Netherton, and also Timothy's own staff, but his two nephews were conspicuous by their absence. Nor had they received a wedding present from them. There were also present in the church Clan Wallace and his wife and son Art, Miss Penelope Smythe, the dressmaker, and Roland Watts, the carpenter, who had once lived in the village, and his wife.

It would seem that with this representation from the village, the inhabitants were wishing her well. But the village was still the village and in the King's Head there were those who reminded others that it was through her that there were two men and a girl languishing in jail and also that four families had been turfed out of their homes.