blindly and grasped the edge of the table before her. For a moment she felt as if she were blind and deaf; then she drew a long breath. "Marry you—before you go!" she gasped. "Today?" The Beggar Man smiled. "Well, there's hardly time today, is there? I thought tomorrow morning—early—about nine, if that is not too early for you." "I have to be at the factory at half-past seven." She uttered the excuse tremblingly, knowing full well that it was no excuse at all. He made an impatient movement. "There is no need to consider the factory. You were to have left, anyway. I'll make it right with them." Faith had been conscious of a feeble sense of resistance, but now, as she met his eyes, all willpower seemed to desert her. "Very well," she said, in a whisper. The Beggar Man gripped her hand. "Thank you. I hope you will never regret it," he said. The tears swam into Faith's eyes. "And—mother?" she faltered. "You can tell her tomorrow as soon as we're married, if you like," he answered. "Or leave it till I come back, and I'll tell her myself. I shall only be gone a little while, after all. Seventeen days will quickly pass." "Will they?" She smiled wistfully. To her ignorance, America sounded as if it must be in another world. "Don't you want any more tea? Very well, then, we'll get along." They went out into the street together. "I haven't bought any new clothes," she said timidly. He glanced down at her. "Never mind—get them while I'm away. What does it matter what clothes you are married in? There will only be me to see you." He meant the words kindly, but they gave her a little thrill of apprehension. Only him! That was what it would be for the rest of her life—only this man, who, after all, was almost a stranger to her. She wanted to put her thoughts into words, but glancing up at his grave face she was suddenly afraid, and he went on talking, quite unconscious of her agitation. "Do you know Victoria Station? But of course you do! Well, if you'll meet me there tomorrow…. No, I'll come and meet you and we'll drive down together. I'll be at the end of your road at half-past eight. Will that do?" "Yes." Her heart was beating so fast she thought it would choke her. Yesterday she had been all happiness and excitement at the thought of her marriage. This morning it had still seemed some wonderful dream, but now… the suddenness of it all made her feel as if someone had asked her to jump off the edge of the world. "If you don't mind," the Beggar Man said suddenly, "I must leave you now. I've a lot to do this evening. You must let me send you home in a taxi." "Oh, no, no." He looked surprised. "Why not? You don't want to walk all that way." "I'd rather go on a bus if you don't mind." She felt that she must cling to her old life with might and main for this 

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