THE THIRD APPEAL Face to face they stood, while at the vision of her sweetness his heart grew still.

Face to face, and the faint light fell upon her tender loveliness and died in her deep eyes, and the faint breeze fragrant with the breath of pines gently stirred her hair.

Oh, it was worth living to see her thus! "I beg your pardon," she said in a puzzled tone, stepping forward to pass the gate.
"_Beatrice!_" She gave a little cry, and clutched the railing, else she would have fallen.

One moment she stayed so, looking up towards his face that was hid in the deepening shadow--looking with wild eyes of hope and fear and love.
"Is it you," she said at length, "or another dream ?" "It is I, Beatrice!" he answered, amazed.
She recovered herself with an effort.
"Then why did you frighten me so ?" she asked.

"It was unkind--oh, I did not mean to say anything cross.